data protection

A. Name and address of the person responsible and his representative

The person responsible within the meaning of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other national data protection laws - in particular the Hessian Data Protection and Freedom of Information Act (HDSIG) - as well as other data protection regulations is:

Central Hesse University of Technology (THM)
Wiesenstrasse 14
Tel.: + 49 641 309-0
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Legally represented by its President

Prof. Dr. Matthias Willems
Wiesenstrasse 14
Tel.: + 49 641 309-0
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B. Contact details of the data protection officer

The data protection officers of the person responsible are:

Ingmar Böffel (Law)
Prof. Thomas Friedl (Technology)

Wiesenstrasse 14
Tel.: + 49 641 309-0
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C. General information on data processing

1. Scope of processing of personal data

Personal data is information that can be used to identify a natural person, i.e., information that makes individuals identifiable. This includes, in particular, names, email addresses, student ID numbers, and telephone numbers. Data about preferences, hobbies, memberships, or even information about websites visited also falls under the category of personal data.

The processing of personal data is always carried out in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Hessian Data Protection and Freedom of Information Act (HDSIG) as well as, if applicable, the relevant provisions of other laws, in particular the Hessian University Act (HHG).

In principle, we only collect and process personal data from our users to the extent that this is necessary to provide a functional website and our content and services, a legal basis allows us to do so, or you have consented to this.

An exception applies in cases in which obtaining prior consent is not possible for actual reasons and the processing of the data is permitted by legal regulations.

2. Legal basis for processing personal data

Insofar as we obtain the consent of the data subject for processing operations involving personal data, Article 6(1)(a) GDPR as the legal basis for the processing.

When processing personal data necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is a party, Article 6(1)(b) GDPR as the legal basis. This also applies to processing operations necessary for carrying out pre-contractual measures.

Insofar as the processing of personal data is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which THM is subject, Article 6(1)(c) GDPR as the legal basis.

In the event that the processing of personal data is necessary to protect the vital interests of the data subject or of another natural person, Article 6(1)(d) GDPR as the legal basis.

If the processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in THM, then Article 6(1)(e) GDPR as the legal basis for the processing.

If processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by THM or a third party, and the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject do not override those interests, then Article 6(1)(f) GDPR as the legal basis for the processing. This does not apply insofar as THM is acting in an official capacity during the processing.

3. Duration of storage of personal data

We will only store the personal data of the person concerned for as long as the purpose for which it is stored exists. The personal data of the data subject will be deleted or blocked as soon as the purpose of storage no longer applies.

If the processing is based on the consent of the data subject, the data will only be stored until the data subject revokes their consent, unless there is another legal basis for the processing. Storage can also take place if this has been provided for by the European or national legislator in EU regulations, laws or other regulations to which the person responsible is subject. The data will also be blocked or deleted if a storage period prescribed by the standards mentioned expires, unless there is a need for further storage of the data to conclude or fulfill a contract.

D. Provision of the website and creation of log files

1. Scope of data processing

Every time our website is accessed, our system automatically collects data and information from the computer system of the accessing computer.

The following data is collected:

  1. Information about the browser type and version used
  2. The user's operating system
  3. The user's Internet service provider
  4. The user's IP address
  5. Date and time of access
  6. Websites from which the user's system accesses our website
  7. Websites that are accessed by the user's system via our website

The data is also stored in the log files of our system. This data is not stored together with other personal data of the user.

2. Legal basis for processing

The legal basis for the temporary storage of the data and log files is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR.

3. Purpose of processing

The temporary storage of the IP address by the system is necessary to enable delivery of the website to the user's computer. To do this, the user's IP address must remain stored for the duration of the session.

The data is stored in log files to ensure the functionality of the website. The data also serves us to optimize the website and to ensure the security of our information technology systems. The data will not be evaluated for marketing purposes in this context.

These purposes also include our legitimate interest in data processing in accordance with Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR.

4. Duration of storage of personal data

The data is deleted when the respective session ends.

If the data is stored in log files, it will be deleted after 14 days at the latest. Storage beyond this is possible. In this case, the users' IP addresses are deleted or altered so that it is no longer possible to assign the calling client.

The collection of data to provide the website and the storage of the data in log files are absolutely necessary for the operation of the website. There is therefore no possibility for the user to object.

E. Use of cookies

1. Scope of data processing

Our website uses cookies. Cookies are text files that are stored in the Internet browser or by the Internet browser on the user's computer system. When a user accesses a website, a cookie can be stored on the user's operating system. This cookie contains a characteristic string that allows the browser to be uniquely identified when the website is accessed again.

We use cookies to make our website more user-friendly. Some elements of our website require that the accessing browser can be identified even after a page change. The following data is stored and transmitted in the cookies:

  1. Login information
  2. Session settings

Of course, you can generally view our website without cookies. Internet browsers are regularly set to accept cookies. In general, you can deactivate the use of cookies at any time via your browser settings. Please use the help functions of your internet browser to learn how to change these settings. Please note that individual functions of our website may not work if you have deactivated the use of cookies.

To protect your privacy, THM does not use cookies to analyze surfing behavior.

2. Legal basis for processing

The legal basis for processing personal data using technically necessary cookies is Article 6(1)(f) GDPR. The legal basis for processing personal data using cookies for other purposes is, if the user has given their consent, Article 6(1)(a) GDPR.

3. Purpose of processing

The purpose of using technically necessary cookies is to simplify website use for users. Some functions of our website cannot be offered without the use of cookies. For these functions, it is necessary that the browser is recognized even after a page change. Our legitimate interest in processing personal data pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR.

Cookies are required for the following applications:

  1. Single sign-on
  2. Binding login sessions to specific servers (“sticky sessions”)

The user data collected through technically necessary cookies is not used to create user profiles.

4. Duration of storage of personal data

Cookies are stored on the user's computer and transmitted from the user to our site. Therefore, as a user, you also have full control over the use of cookies. By changing the settings in your internet browser, you can deactivate or restrict the transmission of cookies. Cookies that have already been saved can be deleted at any time. This can also be done automatically. If cookies are deactivated for our website, it may no longer be possible to fully use all functions of the website.

F. Newsletter

1. Scope of data processing

It is possible to subscribe to free newsletters on our website. When you register for the newsletter, the data from the input mask is transmitted to us. In this way, the following data is transmitted to us:

User's email address

The following additional data is also collected when registering:

  1. IP address of the accessing computer
  2. Date and time of registration

Your consent will be obtained for the processing of data as part of the registration process and reference will be made to this data protection declaration.

In connection with data processing for sending newsletters, the data will not be passed on to third parties. The data is used exclusively for sending the newsletter.

2. Legal basis for processing

The legal basis for processing the data after registration for the newsletter and granting your consent within the registration process is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR.

3. Purpose of processing

The purpose of collecting the user's email address is to deliver the newsletter. The collection of other personal data as part of the registration process serves to prevent misuse of the services or the email address used.

4. Duration of storage of personal data

Your email address will be stored as long as your newsletter subscription is active. The other personal data collected as part of the registration process is usually deleted after a period of seven days.

The subscription to the newsletter can be canceled by the respective user at any time. For this purpose, there is a corresponding link in every newsletter. By canceling the newsletter, you can also revoke your consent to the storage of personal data collected during the registration process.

G. Email contact

1. Scope of data processing

There are contact forms in various areas on our website that are used for electronic communication, in particular for establishing contact, registering for events, reporting disruptions, etc. can be used. If a user takes advantage of this option, the data entered in the input mask will be transmitted to us and stored. This data is:

  • First and Last Name
  • E-mail address
  • Regarding
  • Message text
  • Other contextual data

At the time the message is sent, the following data is also stored:

  • The user's IP address
  • Date and time of registration
  • Registration form URL

Your consent will be obtained for the processing of the data as part of the collection process and reference will be made to the data protection declaration.

Alternatively, you can contact us using the email address provided. In this case, the user's personal data transmitted with the email will be stored.

In this context, the data will not be passed on to third parties. The data is used exclusively for maintaining contact and processing the conversation.

2. Legal basis for data processing

The legal basis for processing data transmitted via email is Article 6(1)(f) GDPR. The legal basis for processing data via a contact form is, if the user has given consent, Article 6(1)(a) GDPR. If the email contact aims at concluding a contract, the additional legal basis for processing is Article 6(1)(b) GDPR.

3. Purpose of data processing

The sole purpose of processing personal data is to process the contact. The other personal data collected serves to prevent misuse of the contact form and to ensure the security of our information technology systems. This also represents the necessary legitimate interest in processing the data.

4. Duration of storage of personal data

The personal data sent by email will be deleted when the respective conversation with the user has ended and there is no other legal reason for retention. The conversation ends when it can be seen from the circumstances that the relevant issue has been finally clarified.

The user has the option to revoke his consent to the processing of personal data at any time. If the user only contacts us by email, he can object to the storage of his personal data at any time; however, in such a case the conversation cannot continue.

All personal data stored in the course of contacting us will be deleted in the event of revocation.

H. Site map/Google Maps

1. Scope of data processing

On our website we use the Google Maps API, a map service from Google Inc. (“Google”) to display an interactive map. By using Google Maps, information about your use of this website (including your IP address) may be transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there.

Please note the Google Terms of Service and the Google Privacy Policy.

Google may transfer the collected data to third parties if this is required by law or if third parties process this data on behalf of Google.

It would be technically possible for Google to be able to identify at least individual users based on the data received. It is possible that personal data and personality profiles of users of the website could be processed by Google for other purposes over which we have no influence.

2. Legal basis for data processing

The legal basis for the processing of the data is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR.

3. Purpose of processing

Google Maps is used to make it easier to find the locations indicated on our website.

I. Use of social media plugins

1. Scope of data processing

We may use social plugins from various providers on our website. If you access one of our websites that contains such a plugin, your browser establishes a direct connection to the servers of the provider in question. The content of the plugin is transmitted directly to your browser by the provider and integrated into the website by it.

By integrating the plugins, the provider receives the information that you have accessed the corresponding page on our website. If you are logged in to the respective provider, they have the opportunity to assign this information to your account.

2. Legal basis for processing

The legal basis for the processing of the data is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR.

J. Rights of the data subject

If your personal data is processed, you as the data subject within the meaning of the GDPR have the following rights towards the person responsible:

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1. Right to information

You can request confirmation from the person responsible as to whether personal data concerning you is being processed.

If such processing occurs, you can request information from the person responsible about the following information:

  1. the purposes for which the personal data are processed;
  2. the categories of personal data that are processed;
  3. the recipients or categories of recipients to whom the personal data concerning you have been or will be disclosed;
  4. the planned duration of storage of the personal data concerning you or, if specific information is not possible, criteria for determining the storage period;
  5. the existence of a right to rectification or deletion of personal data concerning you, a right to restrict processing by the controller or a right to object to this processing;
  6. the existence of a right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority;
  7. all available information about the origin of the data if the personal data is not collected from the data subject;
  8. the existence of automated decision-making including profiling pursuant to Article 22(1) and (4) GDPR and – at least in these cases – meaningful information about the logic involved as well as the significance and the envisaged consequences of such processing for the data subject.

You have the right to request information as to whether your personal data is being transferred to a third country or to an international organization. In this context, you may request to be informed of the appropriate safeguards pursuant to Article 46 GDPR relating to the transfer.

If the data processing is carried out for scientific, historical or statistical research purposes, the right to information can be restricted to the extent that it is likely to make the realization of the research or statistical purposes impossible or seriously impair it and the restriction is necessary for the fulfillment of the research or statistical purposes.

2. Right to rectification

You have the right to have your data corrected and/or completed by the person responsible if the personal data processed concerning you is incorrect or incomplete. The person responsible must make the correction immediately.

When data is processed for scientific, historical or statistical research purposes, your right to rectification may be limited to the extent that it is likely to make the realization of the research or statistical purposes impossible or seriously impair it and the restriction is necessary for the fulfillment of the research or statistical purposes.

3. Right to deletion

a) Obligation to delete

You can request that the person responsible delete the personal data concerning you immediately. The person responsible is obliged to delete this data immediately if one of the following reasons applies:

  1. The personal data concerning you are no longer necessary for the purposes for which they were collected or otherwise processed.
  2. You withdraw your consent on which the processing was based pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a) or Art. 9 para. 2 lit. a) GDPR , and there is no other legal basis for the processing.
  3. You object to the processing pursuant to Article 21(1) GDPR and there are no overriding legitimate grounds for the processing, or you object to the processing pursuant to Article 21(2) GDPR
  4. Your personal data has been processed unlawfully.
  5. The deletion of personal data concerning you is necessary to comply with a legal obligation under Union or Member State law to which the controller is subject.
  6. Your personal data was collected in relation to information society services offered, in accordance with Article 8(1) of the GDPR .

b) Information to third parties

If the controller has made the personal data concerning you public and is obliged to erase it pursuant to Article 17(1) GDPR , the controller, taking account of available technology and the cost of implementation, shall take reasonable steps, including technical measures, to inform controllers which are processing the personal data that you, as the data subject, have requested the erasure of all links to, or copies or replications of, that personal data.

c) Exceptions

There is no right to deletion if processing is necessary

  1. to exercise the right to freedom of expression and information;
  2. to fulfill a legal obligation requiring processing under Union or Member State law to which the controller is subject, or to carry out a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller;
  3. for reasons of public interest in the area of ​​public health pursuant to Art. 9 para. 2 lit. h) and i as well as Art. 9 para. 3 GDPR;
  4. for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes pursuant to Article 89(1) GDPR, insofar as the right referred to in point (a) is likely to render impossible or seriously impair the achievement of the objectives of that processing, or
  5. to assert, exercise or defend legal claims

4. Right to restriction of processing

You can request the restriction of the processing of personal data concerning you under the following conditions:

  1. if you contest the accuracy of the personal data relating to you for a period enabling the controller to verify the accuracy of the personal data;
  2. the processing is unlawful and you refuse the deletion of the personal data and instead request the restriction of the use of the personal data;
  3. the controller no longer needs the personal data for the purposes of processing, but you need them to assert, exercise or defend legal claims, or
  4. if you have objected to the processing pursuant to Article 21(1) GDPR and it is not yet clear whether the legitimate grounds of the controller override your grounds.

If the processing of personal data concerning you has been restricted, this data - apart from its storage - may only be used with your consent or to assert, exercise or defend legal claims or to protect the rights of another natural or legal person or for reasons of important public interest of the Union or a Member State.

If processing has been restricted in accordance with the above requirements, you will be informed by the person responsible before the restriction is lifted.

When data is processed for scientific, historical or statistical research purposes, your right to restriction of processing may be limited to the extent that it is likely to make the realization of the research or statistical purposes impossible or seriously impair it and the restriction is necessary for the fulfillment of the research or statistical purposes.

5. Right to information

If you have asserted the right to rectification, deletion or restriction of processing against the controller, the controller is obliged to inform all recipients to whom the personal data concerning you have been disclosed of this rectification or deletion of the data or restriction of processing, unless: this turns out to be impossible or involves disproportionate effort.

You have the right to be informed about these recipients by the person responsible.

6. Right to data portability

You have the right to receive the personal data concerning you that you have provided to the person responsible in a structured, common and machine-readable format. You also have the right to transmit this data to another person responsible without hindrance from the person responsible to whom the personal data was provided, provided that

  1. the processing is based on consent in accordance with Article 6 Paragraph 1 Letter a) GDPR or Article 9 Paragraph 2 Letter a) GDPR or on a contract in accordance with Article 6 Paragraph 1 Letter b) GDPR and
  2. the processing takes place using automated procedures.

In exercising this right, you also have the right to have the personal data concerning you transmitted directly from one controller to another controller, to the extent that this is technically feasible. The freedoms and rights of other people must not be impaired by this.

The right to data portability does not apply to processing of personal data that is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller.

7. Right to object

You have the right to object, on grounds relating to your particular situation, at any time to processing of personal data concerning you which is based on point ( e) of Article 6(1) of the GDPR , including profiling based on those provisions.

In the event of an objection, the person responsible will no longer process the personal data concerning you unless he can demonstrate compelling legitimate reasons for the processing that outweigh your interests, rights and freedoms, or the processing serves to assert, exercise or defend legal claims .

In the case of data processing for scientific, historical or statistical research purposes pursuant to Article 89(1) GDPR, you also have the right to object, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to the processing of personal data concerning you, unless the processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest.

8. Right to revoke the declaration of consent under data protection law

You have the right to revoke your data protection declaration of consent at any time. The revocation of consent does not affect the lawfulness of the processing carried out based on the consent before its revocation.

9. Automated decision-making in individual cases including profiling

You have the right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing, including profiling, which produces legal effects concerning you or similarly significantly affects you.

This does not apply if the decision

  1. is necessary for the conclusion or fulfillment of a contract between you and the person responsible,
  2. is permitted by Union or Member State law to which the controller is subject and such law contains appropriate measures to safeguard your rights and freedoms and your legitimate interests or
  3. with your express consent.

However, these decisions must not be based on special categories of personal data pursuant to Article 9(1) GDPR , unless Article 9(2)(a) or (g) GDPR applies and appropriate measures to protect your rights and freedoms and legitimate interests have been taken.

With regard to the cases mentioned in (1) and (3), the controller shall take appropriate measures to protect the rights and freedoms as well as your legitimate interests, including at least the right to obtain human intervention on the part of the controller, to express one's own point of view and heard to challenge the decision.

K. Rights and complaints options

Without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedy, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of your residence, place of work or the place of the alleged infringement, if you are of the opinion that the processing of personal data concerning you violates the Violates the EU General Data Protection Regulation.

The supervisory authority with which the complaint has been lodged shall inform the complainant of the progress and outcome of the complaint, including the possibility of a judicial remedy pursuant to Article 78 GDPR.

If you have data protection issues, you have the right to complain to the responsible supervisory authority in the state of Hesse.

Contact address of the technical supervisory authority of the Central Hesse University of Applied Sciences:

The Hessian Data Protection Commissioner,
P.O. Box 3163,
65021 Wiesbaden

Email HDSB 

Telephone: +49 611 1408 – 0
Fax: +49 611 1408 – 611