Data protection
This data protection information applies to data processing in connection with your membership of THE HERA CIRCLE
(Aachener Str. 61, 50674 Cologne, Germany)
E-mail: mail@theheracircle.com
as the controller under data protection law (hereinafter referred to as “THE HERA CIRCLE”, “us” or “we”).
THE HERA CIRCLE is a membership-based platform. As part of your membership, we process your personal data as described below, in particular for the purpose of contract processing, member support and public relations.
1. data, purposes and legal basis
Visiting our website
It is generally possible to use our website without providing personal data. If personal data (e.g. name, address or email addresses) is collected on our website, this is always done on a voluntary basis as far as possible. This data will not be passed on to third parties without your express consent.
Server log files and log data
The provider of our website automatically collects and stores information in so-called server log files, which your browser automatically transmits to us.
These are
Browser type and browser version
Operating system used
Referrer URL
Host name of the accessing computer
Time and date of the server request
IP address
Type of cookies
Previously visited website
We process this data on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 b) GDPR in order to be able to provide you with the use of our website and the agreed or requested services on our website. The log files are stored for as long as is necessary for the respective purpose. This data cannot be assigned to specific persons. This data is not merged with other data sources. We reserve the right to check this data retrospectively if we become aware of specific indications of unlawful use.
Cookies and similar technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies such as pixel tags or web beacons on our website. Cookies do not cause any damage to your computer and do not contain viruses. Cookies are used to make our website more user-friendly, effective and secure. Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer and saved by your browser.
Most of the cookies we use are so-called “session cookies”. They are automatically deleted at the end of your visit. Other cookies remain stored on your device until you delete them. These cookies enable us to recognize your browser on your next visit.
You can set your browser so that you are informed about the setting of cookies and only allow cookies in individual cases. You can also exclude the acceptance of cookies for certain cases or in general and activate the automatic deletion of cookies when closing the browser. If cookies are deactivated, the functionality of this website may be restricted.
In the following, we will distinguish between different categories of cookies.
Required cookies: Required cookies are necessary for the website to function properly. Such cookies make a website usable by providing basic functions such as page navigation and access to protected areas of the website or language settings. Due to their importance for the functioning of the website, you cannot refuse this type of cookie. We base the associated processing of personal data on Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 f) GDPR. Necessary cookies include, for example, cookies that recognize whether a user is using Java Script or determine whether a user has accepted the use of cookies via the cookie banner. The lifespan of the necessary cookies we use extends from the respective session to one year.
Cookies for website optimization: Based on your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 a) GDPR), we use cookies to make our websites more efficient, to recognize your device on subsequent visits and to obtain information and statistics about your use of our website. You can revoke your consent at any time without disadvantages and with effect for the future. Please change your settings here.
We use the following third-party services to optimize our website:
Google Analytics
If and as long as you agree, we use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, LLC. (“Google”). Google Analytics uses cookies to analyze how users use the website. The cookies are stored for one day. If you are located within the EU or the European Economic Area, your IP address will be shortened by Google before it is transferred to the USA. In exceptional cases, your full address will be transmitted to a Google server in the USA and truncated there. Google has self-certified its compliance with the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework. Google will use this information on our behalf to compile reports on website activity and to provide other services relating to website activity and internet usage. The IP addresses transmitted by your browser as part of Google Analytics will not be associated with any other data held by Google. The analyses help us to improve our services. You can prevent data generated by the cookie (including your IP address) from being transmitted to Google by downloading and installing this browser plugin or by changing your settings here.
Marketing cookies: We use marketing cookies that allow us to follow users to other websites to serve ads that are relevant and engaging to the individual user. The processing is based on your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 a) GDPR), which you can revoke at any time with effect for the future.
We use the following third-party services:
Facebook Custom Audience (pixel)
If and as long as you agree, we use cookies provided by Facebook Ireland Ltd, 5-7 Hanover Quay 2 Dublin, Ireland (“Facebook”) in connection with Facebook Custom Audience, a web marketing service. When you visit our website and perform an action, the Facebook pixel is triggered and this action is reported. This information is sorted. This allows us to use advertising features such as audiences, conversions, targeting and optimization, as well as Facebook analytics data. This means that when you visit Facebook or a third-party website, you will receive information that is tailored to your interests.
We have no influence on the specific direct use or additional use of your data by Facebook. Through Facebook Custom Audience, Facebook receives information that you have visited our website or that you have clicked on one of our advertised posts. If you are registered with one of Facebook's services, Facebook can link your visit to your account. Even if you are not registered with Facebook or logged in, it is possible for Facebook to track your IP address and/or additional identification data. In the event that your data leaves the European Union, Facebook has self-certified its compliance with the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield. To deactivate Facebook Custom Audience on our website, please change your settings in our privacy policy under “Cookies and similar technologies” or if you are logged in to Facebook as a user, click here. You can find more information about Facebook's data processing at https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy
Social plugins and similar technologies
Only when you click on the button of a social media provider (e.g. the Facebook Like button) on our website does your browser establish a direct connection to the servers of the respective provider, which may be located in the USA. If you are logged into your user account with the respective provider, this may result in your profile data being supplemented with information about your use of our content. The provider is responsible for the processing of your personal data. You can find more information about the processing of personal data on the provider's website. Our legal basis for the use of the plugins is Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 b) GDPR.
Further information on specific service providers whose plugins we use
Facebook plugin (Like button)
Plugins of the social network Facebook, provider Facebook Inc, 1 Hacker Way, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA, are integrated on our pages. You can recognize the Facebook plugins by the Facebook logo or the “Like” button on our site. You can find an overview of the Facebook plugins here: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/. You can find more information in Facebook's privacy policy at https://de-de.facebook.com/policy.php. If you do not want Facebook to be able to associate your visit to our pages with your Facebook user account, please log out of your Facebook user account.
Functions of the Instagram service are integrated on our pages. These functions are offered by Instagram Inc, 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA. If you are logged into your Instagram account, you can link the content of our pages to your Instagram profile by clicking on the Instagram button. This allows Instagram to associate your visit to our pages with your user account. We would like to point out that, as the provider of the pages, we have no knowledge of the content of the transmitted data or its use by Instagram. You can find more information on this in Instagram's privacy policy: https://instagram.com/about/legal/privacy/
Your membership
When you sign the membership contract to join THE HERA CIRCLE, we collect and process the data you provide and the data associated with it. This may include in particular
Membership data: Personal details (first and last name, address, contact details including telephone number, email address, date of birth), details of your profession (company, job title, expertise) and your interests.
Payment data (only for Paypal direct debit): Account holder, e-mail address, address.
Your membership and payment data is processed for the initiation and fulfillment of your membership contract on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 b) GDPR. This also includes informing you about relevant events (by and with THE HERA CIRCLE) and contacting you as part of your membership of THE HERA CIRCLE.
If we are legally obliged to process your data, which may be the case in particular due to retention obligations under commercial and tax law, the processing is carried out on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 c) GDPR.
If we decide - for whatever reason - not to accept you as a member, we will only store your personal data and manage it via our service providers as part of our member database if you consent to this. In this case, we will ask for your consent separately. The legal basis for the processing is then Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 a) GDPR.
Our newsletter
We also offer you the option of subscribing to our newsletter via double opt-in: After your email address has been entered in the corresponding field in your membership application and the membership application has been sent, we will send you a confirmation link. If you click on this confirmation link, your e-mail address will be added to our mailing list and saved.
The processing of your e-mail address for sending our newsletter is based on your consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 a) GDPR. You can withdraw your consent at any time and unsubscribe from the newsletter. You can declare your revocation by clicking on the link provided in every newsletter e-mail or by sending a message to the contact details given above.
Photos of you
In connection with your membership and events, we sometimes take photos in which you are recognizable. We occasionally publish these photos, possibly together with your first name and surname, on social networks and on our website. From time to time, we also send such photos and names to third parties (magazines, websites, blogs, etc.) for public relations purposes, who also publish the photos and data.
The processing of the aforementioned data is based on your separate, voluntary consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 a) GDPR, if you have given it to us.
You can revoke your consent to the publication of your photos and other personal data at any time by sending a message to the above-mentioned contact details. You can also object to the publication of individual photos at any time. In this case, the transmission/publication will be stopped immediately for the future. This may be restricted in the case of third-party publications or print copies. Photos and data published on our online presence will be removed immediately.
2 How long will your data be stored?
We only store your data for the duration of your membership of THE HERA CIRCLE. After that, your data will be deleted within 14 days, provided that there are no legal retention periods (e.g. from the German Commercial Code or the German Fiscal Code) to the contrary. The retention obligations under commercial and tax law, which apply in particular to invoices and business letters, are generally six or ten years.
3. what data protection rights do you have?
You have various rights towards us, about which you can find further information in Articles 15 to 21 of the GDPR and Sections 32 to 37 BDSG.
In particular, you have the right to obtain information from us as to whether and what personal data we process about you. You can also obtain a copy of this data from us. You also have the right to have us correct and complete any inaccurate or no longer accurate information about you without delay. You can also request that we erase your personal data immediately at any time if it is no longer required for the above-mentioned purposes, if you withdraw your consent, object to data processing or if we process your data unlawfully. Please note that your right to erasure may be restricted by statutory provisions. These include in particular the restrictions listed in Art. 17 GDPR and Section 35 BDSG. You can request that we restrict the processing of your data if you dispute the accuracy of your data or if the processing is unlawful and you refuse to delete the data. You also have a right of restriction if your personal data is no longer necessary for the above-mentioned purpose, but you need it to assert, exercise or defend legal claims. If you have obtained a restriction of processing in accordance with the above list, we will inform you before the restriction is lifted.
You can withdraw your consent to data processing at any time with effect for the future. The processing of your personal data carried out up to that point will nevertheless remain lawful.
You also have the right to receive the personal data you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format and to have this data transmitted by us to others. The exercise of this right does not affect your right to erasure.
If you believe that the processing of your personal data by us violates applicable data protection law, you have the right to lodge a complaint with one of the competent supervisory authorities.
4. assertion of your rights
To exercise your rights, please contact us (also informally). You will find the contact details at the beginning of this privacy policy.