Name and contact details of the operator and the data protection officer:

These data protection notices apply to data processing by the BKMF e. V. (Bundesverband Kleinwüchsiger Menschen und ihrer Familien e. V.)

Responsible: Patricia Carl-Innig 

Data Protection Officer: Holger Esseling, Erlenkamp 19, 48159 Münster, Germany, datenschutz@bkmf.de

1. Collection and storage of personal data as well as the nature and purpose of their use

a) At visiting the website

When visiting the website When you visit our website, the browser used on your device automatically sends information to the server of our website. This information is temporarily stored in a so-called log file. The following information will be collected without your intervention and stored until automated deletion:

IP address of the requesting computer,
Date and time of access,
Name and URL of the retrieved file,
Website from which access is made (referrer URL),
used browser and, if applicable, the operating system of your computer as well as the name of your access provider.

The data mentioned are processed by us for the following purposes:
Ensuring a smooth connection of the website,
Ensuring comfortable use of our website,
Evaluation of system security and stability as well for further administrative purposes.

The legal basis for data processing is Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. f GDPR. Our legitimate interest follows from the data collection purposes listed above. In no case we use the collected data for the purpose of drawing conclusions about you.

In addition, we use cookies when visiting our website. Further details can be found under no. 3 of this privacy policy.  

b) When using one of our contact forms
For questions of any kind, we offer you the opportunity to contact us via a form provided on the website. It is necessary to provide a valid e-mail address so that we know who the request came from and to answer it. Further information can be provided voluntarily.

The data processing for the purpose of contacting us is in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a GDPR based on your voluntarily granted consent. The personal data collected by us for the use of the contact form will be automatically deleted after completion of the request made by you.

2. Disclosure of data 

A transfer of your personal data to third parties for purposes other than those listed below does not take place. We only share your personal information with third parties if: 

• You have given your express consent to this according to Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. a GDPR
• the disclosure pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR is required to assert, exercise or defend legal claims and there is no reason to assume that you have a predominantly legitimate interest in not disclosing your data,
• in the event that disclosure pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. c GDPR is a legal obligation, as well
• this is legally permissible and according to Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. B GDPR is required for the settlement of contractual relationships with you.

3. Cookies

We use cookies on our site. These are small files that your browser automatically creates and that are stored on your device (laptop, tablet, smartphone, etc.) when you visit our site. Cookies do not harm your device, do not contain viruses, Trojans or other malicious software. In the cookie information is stored, each resulting in connection with the specific terminal used. However, this does not mean that we are immediately aware of your identity. 

On the one hand, the use of cookies serves to make the use of our offer more pleasant for you. For example, we use so-called session cookies to recognize that you have already visited individual pages on our website. These are automatically deleted after leaving our page. In addition, to improve usability, we also use temporary cookies that are stored on your device for a specified period of time. If you visit our site again to take advantage of our services, it will automatically recognize that you have already been with us and what inputs and settings you have made, so you do not have to re-enter them. 

On the other hand, we use cookies in order to statistically record the use of our website and to evaluate it for the purpose of optimizing our offer (see Section 5). These cookies allow us to automatically recognize when you visit our site again that you have already been with us. These cookies are automatically deleted after a defined time. 

The data processed by cookies are for the purposes mentioned in order to safeguard our legitimate interests as well as third parties according to Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR required. Most browsers accept cookies automatically. However, you can configure your browser so that no cookies are stored on your computer or always a hint appears before a new cookie is created. However, disabling cookies completely may mean that you can not use all features of our website.

4. Analysis Tools

a) Tracking tools
The tracking measures listed below and used by us are carried out on the basis of Article 6 (1) sentence 1 lit. f. GDPR. With the tracking measures used, we want to ensure a needs-based design and the continuous optimisation of our website. On the other hand, we use the tracking measures to statistically record the use of our website and to evaluate it for the purpose of optimising our offer for you.
These interests are to be regarded as legitimate within the meaning of the aforementioned provision. The respective data processing purposes and data categories can be found in the corresponding tracking tools.

b) Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google Inc. (https://www.google.de/intl/de/about/)(1600 Amphitheater Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA; hereinafter “Google”). In this context, pseudonymised user profiles are created and cookies (see Section 4) are used. The information generated by the cookie about your use of this website such as
– browser type/version,
– operating system used,
– referrer URL (the previously visited page),
– host name of the accessing computer (IP address),
– time of server request,
are transferred to a Google server in the USA and stored there. The information is used to evaluate the use of the website, to compile reports on website activity and to provide other services related to website activity and internet usage for the purposes of market research and the needs-based design of these websites.
This information may also be transferred to third parties if this is required by law or if third parties process this data on our behalf. Under no circumstances will your IP address be merged with other Google data. The IP addresses are anonymized so that an assignment is not possible (IP masking).
You can prevent the installation of cookies by setting the browser software accordingly; we would like to point out to you however that in this case not all functions of this website can be used in full.
You can also prevent the collection of the data generated by the cookie and related to your use of the website (including your IP address) and the processing of this data by Google by downloading and installing a browser add-on (https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de).
As an alternative to the browser add-on, especially for browsers on mobile devices, you dan also prevent Google Analytics from collecting data by clicking on this link. An opt-out cookie is only valid in this browser and only for our website and is stored in your device.
If you delete the coolies in this browser, you must set the opt-out cookie again. Further information on data protection in connection with Google Analytics can be found in the Google Analytics help (https://support.google.com/analytics/anyser/6004245?hl=de)

c) Google Adwords Conversion Tracking
We also use Google Conversion Tracking to statistically record the use of our website and to evaluate it for you in order to optimise our website. Google Adwords places a cookie (see section 4) on your computer if you have reached our website via a Google ad.
These cookies lose their validity after 30 days and are not used for personal identification. If the user visits certain pages of the Adwords customer’s website and the cookie has not yet expired, Google and the customer can recognise that the user clicked on the ad and was redirected to this page.
Data protection authorities require the conclusion of an order data processing agreement for the permissible use of Google Analytics. A corresponding template is available from Google at http://www.google.com/analytics/terms/de.pdf Each Adwords customer receives a different cookie. This means that cookies cannot be tracked via the websites of Adwords customers. The information obtained using the conversion cookie is used to create conversion statistics for Adwords customers who have opted for conversion tracking. The Adwords customers find out the total number of users who clicked on their ad and were forwarded to a page with a conversion tracking tag. However, they do not receive any information with which users can be personally identified.
If you do not want to participate in the tracking process, you can also refuse the setting of a cookie required for this – for example via a browser setting that generally deactivates the automatic setting of cookies. You can also deactivate cookies for conversion tracking by setting your browser so that cookies from the “www.googleadservices.com” domain are blocked.
You can find Google’s privacy policy on conversion tracking here (https://services.google.com/sitestats/de.html).

d) Matomo
We use the open source software Matomo to analyse and statistically evaluate the use of the website. Cookies are used for this (see section 4). The information generated by the cookie about website usage is transmitted to our server and summarised in pseudonymous usage profiles. The information is used to evaluate the use of the website and to enable a needs-based design of our website. The information will not be passed on to third parties.
Under no circumstances will the IP address be linked to other data relating to the user. The IP addresses are anonymized so that an assignment is not possible (IP masking). Your visit to this website is currently being revorded by the Matomo web analysis. Click here (https://matomo.org/docs/privacy/) to stop recording your visit.

5. Social Media Plugins

We use social-media plugins from the social networks Facebook, Twitter and Instagram on our website on the basis of Article 6 Paragraph 1 Clause 1 Letter f GDPR in order to make our law firm better known. The underlying advertising purpose is to be regarded as a legitimate interest within the meaning of GDPR.
Responsibility for data protection-compliant operation is to be guaranteed by their respective providers. We integrate these plugins using the so-called two-click method in order to provide the best possible protection for visitors to our website.

a) Facebook
Social media plugins from Facebook are used on our website to make their use more personal. For this we use the “LIKE” or “SHARE” button. This is an offer from Facebook. If you access a page on our website that contains such a plugin, your browser establishes a direct connection to the Facebook servers. The content of the plugin is transmitted directly from Facebook to your browser, which integrates it into the website.
By integrating the plugin, Facebook receives the information that your browser has accessed the corresponding page of our website, even if you do not have a Facebook account or are not currently logged in to Facebook. This information (including your IP address) is transmitted directly from your browser to a Facebook server in the USA and stored there. If you are logged into Facebook, Facebook can directly assign your visit to our website to your Facebook account.
If you interact with the plugins, for example by pressing the “LIKE” or “SHARE” button, the corresponding information is also transmitted directly to a Facebook server and stored there. The information is also published on Facebook and displayed to your Facebook friends. Facebook can use this information for advertising, merket research and needs-based design of the Facebook pages. For this purpose, usage, interest and relationship profiles are created by Facebook, e. g. to evaluate your use of our website with regard to the advertisements displayed to you on Facebook to inform other Facebook users about your activities on our website and to inform others about the use of Facebook provide related services. If you do not want Facebook to associate the data collected through our website with your Facebook account you must log out of Facebook before visiting our website.
The purpose and scope of the data collection and the further processing and use of the data by Facebook as well as your rights in this regard and setting options for protecting your privacy can be found in Facebook’s data protection information (https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/).

b) Twitter
Plugins of the short message network of Twitter Inc. (Twitter) are integrated on our website. You can recognise the Twitter plugins (tweet button) by the Twitter logo on our site. You can find an overview of tweet buttons here (https://about.twitter.com/resources/buttons).
If you access a page on our website that contains such a plugin, a direct connection is established between your browser and the Twitter server. Twitter receives information that you have visited our site with your IP address. If you click on the Twitter “tweet button” while you are logged into your Twitter account, you can link the content of our pages to your Twitter profile. This allows Twitter to associate your visit to our site with your user account.
We would like to point that we, as the provider of the pages, have no knowledge of the content of the data transmitted or how it is used by Twitter. If you do not want Twitter to be able to assign your visit to our pages, please log out of your Twitter user account. You can find more information on this in Twitters’s privacy policy (https://twitter.com/privacy).

c) Instagram
Our website also uses so-called social plugins (“plugins”) from Instagram, which is operated by Instagram LLC., 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA (“Instagram”). The plugins are marked with an Instagram logo, for example in the form of an “Instagram camera”. If you access a page on our website that contains such a plugin, your browser establishes a direct connection to the Instagram servers. The content of the plugin is transmitted directly from Instagram to your browser and integrated into the page. Through this integration, Instagram receives the information that your browser has accessed the corresponding page of our website, even if you do not have an Instagram profile or are not currently logged in to Instagram.
This information (including your IP address) is transmitted directly from your browser to an Instagram server in the USA and stored here. If you are logged in to Instagramm, Instagram can immediately assign your visit to our website to your Instagram account. If you interact with the plugins, for example by pressing the “Instagram” button, this information is also transmitted directly to an Instagram server and stored there. The information is also published on your Instagram account and displayed to your contacts there.
If you do not want Instagram to directly assign the data collected via our website to your Instagram account, you must log out of Instagram before visiting our website. For more information, see Instagram’s privacy policy (https://help.instagram.com/155833707900388).

6. Affected rights 

You have the right:

• in accordance with Art. 15 GDPR, to request information about your personal data processed by us. In particular, you can provide information on the processing purposes, the category of personal data, the categories of recipients to whom your data has been disclosed, the planned retention period, the right to rectification, deletion, limitation of processing or opposition, the existence of a right to complain, the source of their data, if not collected from us, and the existence of automated decision-making including profiling and, where appropriate, meaningful information about their details;
• pursuant to Art. 16 GDPR, to demand the correction of incorrect or completed personal data stored by us immediately;
• in accordance with Art. 17 GDPR, to demand the deletion of your personal data stored by us, except where the processing is for the exercise of the right to freedom of expression and information, for the fulfillment of a legal obligation, for reasons of public interest or for the assertion, exercise or defense of legal claims is required;
• in accordance with Art. 18 GDPR to demand the restriction of the processing of your personal data, as far as the accuracy of the data is disputed by you, the processing is unlawful, but you reject their deletion and we no longer need the data, but you this to assert, exercise or defense of legal claims or you have objected to processing in accordance with Art. 21 GDPR;
• pursuant to Art. 20 GDPR to obtain your personal data provided to us in a structured, common and machine-readable format or to request the transfer to another person responsible;
• pursuant to Art. 7 para. 3 GDPR your once granted consent to revoke against us at any time. As a result, we are not allowed to continue the data processing based on this consent for the future and
• according to Art. 77 GDPR to complain to a supervisory authority. As a rule, you can contact the supervisory authority of your usual place of residence or work or our office.

7. Right to object 

If your personal data are based on legitimate interests in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. f GDPR are processed, you have the right to file an objection against the processing of your personal data in accordance with Art. 21 GDPR, provided that there are reasons for this arising from your particular situation or the objection is directed against direct mail. In the latter case, you have a general right of objection, which is implemented by us without specifying any particular situation. 

If you would like to exercise your right of revocation or objection, an e-mail to the data protection officer is sufficient.

8. Data security 

We use the popular SSL (Secure Socket Layer) method within the site visit, in conjunction with the highest level of encryption supported by your browser. In general, this is a 256-bit encryption. If your browser does not support 256-bit encryption, we’ll use 128-bit v3 technology instead. Whether a single page of our website is transmitted encrypted, you can see by the closed representation of the key or lock icon in the bottom status bar of your browser. 

We also take appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your data against accidental or intentional manipulation, partial or total loss, destruction or against unauthorized access by third parties. Our security measures are continuously improved in line with technological developments.

9. Naturality and amendment of this privacy policy 

This privacy statement is currently valid and is dated January 2023. As our website evolves and offers become available, or as a result of changes in legal or regulatory requirements, it may be necessary to change this privacy policy. The current privacy policy can be accessed and printed out at any time on the website below the imprint.