Privacy Policy
Softing welcomes you as a visitor to our website and appreciates your interest in our products and services offered by the automotive, industrial, and IT networks divisions.
Softing is very serious about taking steps to protect your data and ensure data confidentiality. Softing wishes to inform you about the items of data that are collected when visiting our website, and how we process and utilize this data.
1. Data controller
The data controller in terms of data protection regulations are Softing AG, Softing Automotive Electronics GmbH, Softing Industrial Automation GmbH, and Softing IT Networks GmbH to the extent that the aforementioned companies collect, process or use data. For further information on the data controller, please refer to the legal information provided on our website under “imprint”.
2. Consent
By using our website, you agree to our terms of use and to the collection, processing and use of your data as explained below. This Privacy Policy is updated regularly and modified as required to comply with changes to data protection legislation. You should therefore visit this page regularly in order to keep yourself informed of the current state of our Privacy Policy. If necessary, we obtain consent separately via this website (e.g. Consent Manager or Newsletter).
3. Data processing on this website
3.1 Personal data
Personal data explicitly permits inferences to be made about a specific person. This category includes such details as the company, name, date of birth, address, telephone number and email address of visitors to our website.
Anonymized data, on the other hand, is not personal data and thus does not fall within the scope of the GDPR.
3.2 Purpose of collection, processing or use
Your personal data is processed on the basis of the principle of legitimization as part of using our website, in order to perform a contract, on the basis of consent, and every time that contact is made – either on your part or on our part. Personal data is shared within the Softing Group, and with service providers under contract, business partners, and other legitimate recipients. Data is shared in the following scenarios in particular.
- When you contact us
If you contact us by email, fax, phone, mail, by using a contact form or chat service, or by using some other form of communication (also provided by external partners), or contact us in person (e.g. at trade fairs, events, or by meeting with our field sales team), we process the personal data (salutation, name, company, contact details) that you provide us with for the purpose of processing, documenting, and tracking your inquiry on the basis of Art. 6 (1) b or f of the GDPR. - Handling orders
To process orders (e.g. sales contract fulfillment), we process the personal data (salutation, name, company, address, contact details, transaction details) that you provide us with based on Art. 6 (1) b of the GDPR. In doing so, we share data as needed with companies we have commissioned with order delivery or execution, and with banks, insurers, and service providers commissioned with handling or supervising the transaction, and conducting credit checks and sanction list searches. This applies similarly to the handling of activities to initiate or prepare contracts, and to post-contractual performance and complaints. - Customers portal
The data entered during registration will be processed and used only for the purposes of using the online customer portal, in compliance with the applicable data protection regulations. The data collected can be seen from the input mask as part of the registration process. The legal basis for the data processing within the scope of registration and for the use of the customer portal is Art. 6 (1) b GDPR.
Registration is only completed when the customer clicks the activation link after registration and confirms the registration (double opt-in).
The user relationship shall end when the customer deregisters by notifying Softing in writing (by mail, fax, or email). - Trade fairs and events
Trade fairs and events give you the opportunity to inform yourself about our products and services, and to contact us in person. The processing of the personal data (salutation, name, company, address, contact details) that you provide us with is completed for the purpose of documentation, processing your inquiries, and completing follow-up work on the event itself, on the basis of Art. 6 (1) b or f of the GDPR. - When we contact you
As part of industry-standard lead tracking, appointment scheduling, providing new contacts with initial information about our communication channels, and for similar purposes, we will contact you in a business context by phone or email, by using other communication channels, or contact you in person. In relation to these activities, we process the personal data (salutation, name, company, address, contact details, role at company) that you have provided us with, and which you have yourself updated, are publicly accessible, or have been provided to us by third parties, on the basis of 6 (1) b or f of the GDPR. This also applies to the completion of routine satisfaction surveys for the purposes of quality assurance, and to improve partner and customer satisfaction. In doing so, we share data as needed with service providers and partners we have commissioned with performance of the same.
3.3 Newsletter
If you have subscribed to one of our newsletters by confirming the button provided for this purpose, we will collect and use your email address to send you the newsletter. You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future (e.g., by clicking on the unsubscribe link, which you will find in every newsletter). To confirm your registration, we use the so-called double opt-in procedure. This means that we will send you a confirmation email before sending the first newsletter, with which you can confirm the newsletter subscription by clicking on the link provided for this purpose. You will only receive our newsletter after confirmation.
We use Pardot for sending newsletters. For more information, see 6.3.
3.4 Support form
Softing provides a support form on its website. If you contact Softing using this form, Softing will process the personal data (salutation, first name, last name, company, address, professional contact data, content of the inquiry) you provide for the purpose of processing, documenting, and tracking your request on the basis of Art. 6 (1) b or f of the GDPR. All required fields are marked with an asterisk.
To process your request, Softing uses the "Service Cloud" product from Salesforce.com Germany GmbH (hereinafter "Salesforce"), Erika-Mann-Str. 31, 80636 Munich/German. The aim is to be able to answer your support requests faster and more accurately and thus improve our customer service. The Service Cloud is based on the Salesforce Customer Success Platform. The processing of personal data by Salesforce is carried out exclusively on our behalf and according to our instructions and is contractually stipulated by signing the order processing agreement and the standard contractual clauses (SCCs). The legal basis for the processing is legitimate interest (Art. 6 (1) f of the GDPR). By submitting your support request via, your data will be transferred to Salesforce. If you do not agree with this data transfer, please contact us by other means (e.g., contact form, phone, mail).
All information on data protection at Salesforce can be found at https://www.salesforce.com/eu/company/privacy/.
3.5 Virtual showroom
Softing provides a virtual showroom that serves as a location for hosting virtual events. Use of the showroom is voluntary and is an ancillary service provided by Softing.
Use of the showroom requires prior registration. There are two ways in which you can use the showroom:
- Use as a guest (restricted use): no requirement to provide personal data
- Use as a registered user (use of all features, including access to exclusive content and presentations): name/pseudonym, email address, and company must be stated
Your data will be processed for the purposes of registration and use of the showroom. If you use the showroom as a guest, we store no personal data about you. We do store personal data if you use the showroom as a registered user. You can withdraw any consent you have given at any time or raise an objection to data processing.
Event registration
You can use our registration form to register for events. This registration is verified with a double opt-in procedure Art. 6 (1) a of the GDPR). Your data will be processed for the purposes of registration, and to ensure that you can participate in or host the event.
In the course of the respective virtual event, Softing will send emails to registered users. The emails sent contain information about the event registered for (e.g. event start date/time, link used to access the event). No advertising email is sent to you without your explicit consent. Softing uses the Salesforce tool Pardot MAS to send email as described above. For more information about data processing with Pardot MAS, see Section 6 of this Privacy Policy.
Contact form
Softing provides a contact form as part of the showroom services. If you contact Softing, Softing will process the personal data (salutation, name, company, contact details) that you provide for the purpose of processing, documenting, and tracking your inquiry on the basis of Art. 6 (1) f of the GDPR.
Vimeo
Softing uses Vimeo (Vimeo LLC, 555 West 18th Street, New York 10011, USA) as its video sharing platform in the showroom. Vimeo lets us protect exclusive video material and make this content accessible only to registered users.
If you reply to the cookie popup by allowing cookies to be set, these cookies will be set when you access a page with an embedded Vimeo video. In this case, Vimeo will store your IP address, browser type, operating system, and other device details. Web activities such as the session duration or bounce rate will also be tracked and stored. If you are also logged in as a registered Vimeo member, then these data may be linked with your Vimeo account. Please see the cookie popup for details of the cookies that are set by Vimeo.
For more information about data protection at Vimeo, please see https://vimeo.com/privacy.
3.6 External Links
To make our showroom and our web pages more attractive, and to offer a wider range of services, Softing provides several other features. Use of these features requires links to be embedded to other providers. When you click these links, you will be taken directly to the websites of these providers. When you do, you will see the URL change. From this point on, the processing of your personal data is beyond our control and Softing therefore accepts no responsibility for the same. When using any external service of this kind, please consult the privacy policies as provided by these external websites.
Links embedded in the showroom:
MS Teams: For each event, Softing creates a Teams session to which all registered users are invited. The link to this session is provided in the showroom. Use of Teams means the respective employee can be contacted directly and questions can be raised. The use of this additional feature is voluntary.
For more information about MS Teams and data protection, please see https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/teams-privacy.
GoToWebinar: For live presentations, Softing uses GoToWebinar, provided by LogMeIn Ireland Limited. In the showroom, a link to the respective presentation/webinar is provided as an agenda icon. If you click the link, you will be forwarded to the GoToWebinar website, where you will need to register for the presentation with your name and email address. This registration is required by GoToWebinar.
For more information about GoToWebinar and data protection, please see https://www.goto.com/company/legal/privacy.
3.7 Use of communication media
If the use of video or other communication media appears advisable for handling these use cases, your use of the system and any permission given to the system to use your data constitutes explicit consent being given to the use of the respective communication channel. The legal basis for processing your personal data in this context is Art. 6 (1) a) of the GDPR.
3.8 Disclosure of personal data
As a general rule, personal data is not transferred to third parties. Note in particular that we do not engage in the business of reselling customer data. Data may be transferred to the extent specified below:
- to Softing Group affiliated companies, which are subject to either this Privacy Policy or one whose provisions provide the same level of protection;
- to our service providers, e.g. for parcel delivery, mail delivery, credit card payments or the organization of training;
- to other service providers who act for us as processors and where a transfer is required due to a contractual relationship and you have given your consent for the transfer, or where our legitimate interests prevail;
- to government authorities, where a court order or other official directive has been served;
- to other third parties if there is a corresponding legal obligation, if such disclosure is necessary to protect our rights as well as the rights of our customers, e.g., to assert or contest legal claims
3.9 Duration of data storage
If you have a contractual relationship with Softing, personal data will be erased pursuant to mandatory erasure procedures (e.g. legal erasure periods pursuant to the German Commercial Code (HGB) and Fiscal Code).
If we process your personal data as a result of an inquiry, initial contact, or some other form of communication, these data will be erased after handling your inquiry, assuming there is no legitimate interest for subsequent data processing or storage, nor any consent for this has been given on your part.
4. Log data
On the basis of Art. 6 (1) f of the GDPR, we process the following personal data, categorized as “log data”, in order to serve web pages, maintain functional capability, optimize our applications, and ensure the security of our websites: user IP address, date and time of access, pages/files accessed, access protocol and status, volume of data transferred, referer URL, and information about the client/browser used.
Log data and their content are retained for 8 days, and then erased or anonymized as required, except in cases where these data are required to clarify or document a case of misuse or legal infringement that we have become aware of during the retention period.
The website is hosted by the provider Domainfactory GmbH (c/o WeWork, Neuturmstrasse 5, 80331, Munich) on servers located in Germany. Domainfactory GmbH acts as data processor on our behalf.
For more information about data protection, please see https://www.df.eu/de/datenschutz/.
5. Use of cookies
Our websites use cookies to provide you with a seamless web experience and to optimize the user experience. Cookies are small text files that are stored on users’ end devices and contain specific user and usage information.
The use of all company websites requires consent for those cookies that are absolutely necessary for operation. In addition, you can give us consent to use other cookies (analytics, marketing, external content). This request is made before the first use of our websites and serves as the legal basis for the processing of personal data (salutation, name, company, IP address, user information, etc.), which are automatically collected by our websites, on the basis of Art. 6 (1) a DSGVO. As a precaution, we would like to point out that the functions of our websites may be limited if cookies are deactivated or removed.
Detailed information on the cookies used, their purpose and storage period can be found in our cookie banner under "More information". In this banner, you can adjust your cookie settings at any time and revoke your consent with effect for the future.
In addition, you can restrict or deactivate the use of cookies in your browser settings at any time. It is also possible to use our offers without cookies. However, this may lead to certain restrictions in the functions and user-friendliness of our offer.
6. Third-party services
When using third-party services, we ensure that there is a valid legal framework in place for data transfer. To ensure the security of your personal data, we have concluded a processing contract pursuant to Art. 28 GDPR with all third-party service providers. We have concluded the standard contractual clauses issued by the EU Commission with such providers as are located in third countries.
6.1 Payment service providers
We use payment tools from external providers to ensure fast, secure, and reliable payment handling. The payments you make are handled by these payment tools. In the process, the data required for the payment transaction are forwarded to the provider and stored there (payment method, bank code, currency, amount, date of payment, name (as required), email address, invoice/shipping address, transaction history). The IP address and country may also be logged as part of anti-fraud measures and for financial reporting. These data may also be stored outside the EU. Data is stored for the duration of service provision while also accounting for legal retention periods (typically 10 years).
We currently use the following payment service providers:
Stripe
Stripe Payments Europe, Europe Ltd., 1 Grand Canal Street Lower, Grand Canal Dock, Dublin, Ireland. For more information about data protection at Stripe, please see https://stripe.com/privacy.
Chargebee
Chargebee Inc., 340 S Lemon Avenue, #1537, Walnut, California 91789, USA. For more information about data protection at Chargebee, please see https://www.chargebee.com/privacy/.
6.2 Google services
The controller for all Google services: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. As a rule, the legal basis for data processing is your given consent pursuant to Art. 6 (1) f GDPR. In exceptional cases, we invoke our legitimate interest.
We have concluded a processing contract with Google, including standard contractual clauses.
For more information on data protection and storage periods at Google, please see the Google privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy.
Google Tag Manager
We use Google Tag Manager to manage website tags through one interface and allows us to control the exact integration of services on our website. This allows us to flexibly integrate additional services to evaluate user access to our website. The use of Google Tag Manager is based on our legitimate interests, i.e., interest in optimizing our services.
For more information on data protection and storage duration, please see the privacy policy: https://www.google.com/analytics/terms/tag-manager.
Google DoubleClick
We have integrated components of DoubleClick by Google on our website for marketing purposes and the optimization of our pages. DoubleClick by Google transfers data to the DoubleClick server with each impression, click or other activity. This prevents, for example, that advertisements are displayed twice. A DoubleClick cookie does not contain any personal data but may contain additional campaign identifiers. A campaign identifier serves to identify the campaigns with which you have already been in contact on other websites. As part of this service, Google obtains knowledge of data that Google also uses to generate commission invoices.
Google Ads Conversion Tracking
To promote our services and increase our reach, we use the tool Google Ads Conversion Tracking. This allows us to see which keywords, ads and campaigns lead to the desired customer actions. We see how many customers interact with our ads on a device and then make a conversion. When you click on a Google Ads ad, a cookie is set on your device. We can therefore recognize that you have reached our website via the ad. We do not receive any personal data from you. Google provides us with a report with a strictly statistical analysis (e.g., total number of clicks on our ads). The legal basis for the processing is your given consent.
Google Maps
Our websites use the external "Google Maps” map service. This service enables us to present our websites in an appealing way by loading map material from an external server. The required data is requested from a Google server in Europe or the USA. As a result of this request, information such as your IP address and the web pages you have visited are usually transmitted to a Google server, where it is stored for several months. We use Google Maps to present our online content in an appealing way.
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics as a web analysis service. The information generated by the cookie about your use of our website will be transmitted to a Google server in Europe or the United States, where it is stored. IP anonymization was activated on all company websites, so that the users’ IP address will be truncated by Google within Member States of the European Union or other countries that are party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be transmitted to a Google server in the USA and shortened there.
Google will use this information on behalf of the operator of this website for the purpose of evaluating user’s use of the website, compiling reports on website activity and providing other services to the website operator relating to website activity and Internet usage. The IP address transmitted by your browser in connection with Google Analytics will not be merged with other data held by Google. We only use Google Analytics if you give us your consent. You can prevent cookies from being stored on your computer by changing the relevant settings in your browser. Users can also prevent the collection of data generated by the cookie and related to their use of the website (including your IP address) to Google and the processing of this data by Google by downloading and installing the browser plugin available at the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en.
6.3 Pardot MAS
Our website uses the Pardot Marketing Automation System ("Pardot MAS") by Pardot LLC, 950 East Paces Ferry Road, Suite 3300 Atlanta, GA 30326, USA. Pardot MAS is a salesforce software module for recording and evaluating the use of a website by website visitors. The processing of personal data by Pardot LLC is carried out exclusively on our behalf and according to our instructions and is contractually stipulated by signing the standard contractual clauses (SCCs). The legal basis for the processing is consent. If you give us consent to use Pardot (via cookie banner), Pardot MAS records your click path and uses it to create an individual usage profile using a pseudonym. For this purpose, cookies are used, which allow a recognition of your browser. All cookies only receive the generated number code, so that personal inferences are not possible. You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future. In addition, you can deactivate the creation of pseudonymized usage profiles at any time by configuring your Internet browser so that cookies from the domain "pardot.com" are not accepted. However, this may lead to certain restrictions in the functions and user-friendliness of our offer.
For more information about data protection, please see https://www.salesforce.com/eu/company/privacy/.
6.4 Cloudflare
We use Cloudflare from Cloudflare, Inc. (101 Townsend St., San Francisco, CA 94107, USA) on our websites to make our website faster and more secure. For this purpose, Cloudflare uses cookies and processes user data. Cloudflare, Inc. is an American company that provides a content delivery network (CDN) and various security services. The legal basis for their use is our legitimate interest.
Cloudflare generally only forwards data that is controlled by website operators. The content is therefore not determined by Cloudflare, but always by the website operator itself. In addition, Cloudflare may collect certain information about the use of our websites and process data sent by us or for which Cloudflare has received appropriate instructions. In most cases, Cloudflare receives data such as contact information, IP addresses, security fingerprints, DNS log data, and performance data for websites derived from browser activity. Log data helps Cloudflare detect new threats, for example. This allows Cloudflare to ensure a high level of security protection for our websites. Cloudflare processes this data as part of the Services in compliance with applicable laws. Cloudflare stores your information primarily in the United States and the European Economic Area. Cloudflare may transfer and access the information described above from around the world. Generally, Cloudflare stores user-level data for less than 24 hours.
For more information about Cloudflare's privacy practices, please visit https://www.cloudflare.com/de-de/privacypolicy/.
6.5 WisePops
We use services provided by WisePops SAS, 49 Rue Jean De La Fontaine, 75016 Paris, France. Working with WisePops allows us to deliver popups based on website usage patterns. To do this, WisePops tracks usage and delivers popups as appropriate. This service uses cookies. For more information, please see: https://wisepops.com/terms-of-service/.
We use services provided by Zapier, Inc., 548 Market St. #62411 San Francisco, CA 94104-5401, USA. Zapier is an integration tool that lets us integrate web applications like WisePops and Outlook calendars in order to automate our mailings. Zapier is GDPR-compliant and does not sell data to third parties. For more information about data protection, please see https://zapier.com/help/account/data-management/data-privacy-at-zapier.
For the company privacy policy, please see: https://zapier.com/privacy.
6.6 OptinMonster
OptinMonster is a plugin provided by Retyp LLC, 7732 Maywood Crest Dr., West Palm Beach, FL 33412, USA (https://optinmonster.com). This plugin gives us a popup layer on our website that lets us offer visitors additional services, such as entering their email address to subscribe to a newsletter or providing them with information about promotions. OptinMonster uses cookies to do this. Personal data are collected only if volunteered by customers themselves (e.g. the customer uses a popup to subscribe to a newsletter). OptinMonster does not store the data collected on its own servers but forwards these data to us directly. We have concluded a data processing contract with OptinMonster, in which we have secured guarantees that OptinMonster will protect your data pursuant to the provisions of the GDPR. You can restrict or deactivate the use of cookies at any time by modifying your browser settings.
For further details about the handling of personal customer data by OptinMonster, please see the OptinMonster privacy policy (https://optinmonster.com/privacy/).
6.7 Talention Analytics
This website uses Talention Analytics software, which provides analyses of page accesses and page visitors. The Talention Analytics software is operated by TFI GmbH (Lise-Meitner-Straße 5-9, 42119 Wuppertal, Germany). Talention Analytics uses permanent cookies that allow Talention to analyze website visitor usage behavior. The information stored in the cookie about the use of the website is transferred to the Talention Analytics web servers for storage there. Talention Analytics anonymizes the IP address of the accessing computer. The data transferred as part of the use of Talention Analytics by the browser of the accessing computer are not combined with other data from the user unless the user has given their consent to such processing. You can deactivate Talention Analytics by preventing the storage of the cookie by setting your browser software accordingly.
For more information about data protection at TFI GmbH, please see https://www.talention.de/datenschutzerklaerung.
6.8 SiteImprove
Softing makes use of Siteimprove Analytics, a web analysis service from Siteimprove GmbH. The information generated by cookies about your use of this website (including the encrypted visitor IP address) is transferred to a server operated by Siteimprove in Denmark and stored there. Siteimprove uses this information to evaluate your use of the website and to compile reports on website activity for the operator of the website. Siteimprove does not share this information with third parties. IP addresses are securely anonymized before the data collected can be viewed in Siteimprove Analytics.
For more information about data protection at Siteimprove, please see https://www.siteimprove.com/privacy/.
6.9 Matomo
We use the Matomo web analysis service (InnoCraft Ltd, 7 Waterloo Quay PO Box 625, 6140 Wellington, New Zealand) to analyze the use of our website in order to make routine improvements. Thanks to these statistics, we can improve our service portfolio and make the website more appealing to you as a user. The legal basis for the use of Matomo is your consent to this service. This website uses Matomo with the “AnonymizeIP” extension. This ensures IP addresses are truncated before further processing, thereby excluding their association with any individual. The IP address provided by your browser via Matomo is not aggregated with any other data that we collect.
The Matomo software and the data collected with Matomo are operated, stored, and processed only on our own servers. Matomo is an open source project.
To view this third-party provider’s privacy policy, please visit https://matomo.org/privacy/.
6.10 Cookie Opt-In Extension
For our consent management we use the Cookie Opt-In Extension for TYPO3, which is offered by the company Stefan Galinski Internetdienstleistungen, Bahnhofstr. 52, 37339 Gernrode. We have implemented consent management in order to comply with legal obligations. Data processing is carried out exclusively on our behalf and on servers in Germany.
Further information on data protection at the company can be found at https://www.sgalinski.de/en/data-protection/.
7. Social plugins
Our website uses social plugins. These are marked with the corresponding logo and they link to the respective social media platform. When you access a web page on our website that is using one of these plugins, your browser will make a direct connection to the corresponding server. As a result, the social media platform operator will be informed that you have accessed the corresponding page on our website and can associate this information with your account if you are logged in to that platform. If you do not want the social media platform operator to collect data about you from our website, you will need to log out of your social media account before visiting our website.
7.1 LinkedIn
We use plug-ins from LinkedIn Corporation, 2029 Stierlin Court, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA on our websites. If you access LinkedIn from our site, LinkedIn collects information from the devices and networks. As soon as you visit our website, a direct connection to the LinkedIn servers is established via your browser. LinkedIn automatically receives the URL of the website from which you came or the page to which you are redirected. LinkedIn also receives the Internet Protocol ("IP") address of your computer or the proxy server through which you access the Internet, as well as information about your computer's operating system and the web browser you use, your mobile device (including the mobile device identifier available through your mobile device's operating system), your mobile device's operating system (if you access LinkedIn through a mobile device), and the name of your Internet service provider or mobile carrier. LinkedIn may also receive location data through this. If you are logged in as a member of LinkedIn via your account during your visit to our website and link the content of this website on your LinkedIn profile, LinkedIn can associate your visit to this website with your user account.
The current data protection information from LinkedIn, in particular information on your rights and settings options, can be accessed at the following website: https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy.
7.2 Twitter
Twitter is a microblogging service of the American company Twitter, Inc. (795 Folsom St., Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94107). When you use Softing services, e.g., when you visit one of our websites that contains a Twitter button, your browser also establishes a direct connection to Twitter's servers and loads the button from there. This transmits the information to Twitter that Softing has been accessed. Even if you are not logged in, Twitter may collect and store usage data.
If you click on the Twitter buttons at Softing and "tweet" information via the Twitter window that opens, you transmit the tweeted information to Twitter. This information is then published in your Twitter user profile.
We would like to point out that we, as the provider of the pages, have no knowledge of the content of the transmitted data or its use by Twitter.
Further information on data collection, evaluation, and processing of your data by Twitter as well as your related rights can be found in Twitter's privacy policy, which is available at http://twitter.com/privacy.
7.3 Xing
This website uses the “Share” button provided by XING. As a result, your browser will connect to servers operated by XING AG (Gänsemarkt 43, 20354 Hamburg, Germany) when you access this website. This makes it possible for us to use the share feature (e.g. display the share counter). This does not involve storing personal data about you concerning your visit to this website. In particular, XING does not store any IP addresses. Nor is your user behavior analyzed.
For up-to-date information about data protection and the “Share” button as well as other relevant information, please see https://privacy.xing.com/en/privacy-policy.
7.4 YouTube
Our website uses plugins from Youtube.de/Youtube.com, which - represented by Google Inc. - is operated by Youtube, LLC, Cherry Ave, USA. If you access web pages of our website that contain such a plugin, a connection is established to the YouTube servers and the plugin is displayed on the web page by informing your browser. This transmits information to the Youtube server about which of our Internet pages you have visited. If you are logged in as a member of Youtube, Youtube matches this information with your respective personal user accounts of these platforms. When using these plugins, such as clicking/starting buttons of a video or sending a comment, this information is matched with your e.g., Youtube user account, which you can only prevent by logging out before using the plugin.
For more information on the handling of user data, please see the Google privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en&gl=de.
8. Data protection and job applicants
All data and documents that you provide us with in relation to your application will be automatically collected, stored, and used by our HR department only for this specific purpose. If you submit your application using our online form, data will be collected as requested by the form’s input fields. All required fields are marked with an asterisk. We store your personal data within our company only for as long as is required to fulfill the purpose for which these data were collected – or as is required to comply with legal requirements for data retention. If we reject your application and have not received your consent for a longer period of storage, we will erase your data six months after filling the vacancy for which your application was received.
For more information about data protection and job applications, please see https://jobs.softing.com/privacy.
9. Information security
Softing makes every effort to put technical and organizational security measures in place that protect your personal data against deletion, modification, loss, misuse, unauthorized transfer or unauthorized access.
If you provide us with information via email, then confidentiality cannot be assured, since the content of emails can be read by third parties. You should provide us with confidential information in person or mail it to us via the postal service.
10. Minors
Softing does not collect, process or use personal data from minors. Should Softing discover that personal data from minors has been utilized unknowingly, then these items of data will be deleted without delay.
11. Your rights
Art. 15 GDPR, right of access:
You have the right to obtain confirmation as to whether or not personal data concerning you is being processed. Where that is the case, you have the right of access to this personal data and the information specified in Art. 15 GDPR.
Art. 16 GDPR, right to rectification:
You have the right to rectification without undue delay of inaccurate personal data concerning you and/or completion of your personal data stored by us.
Art. 17 GDPR, right to erasure:
You have the right to obtain the erasure of your personal data if one of the grounds described in Art. 17 GDPR applies. However, this right does not apply if processing is required for exercising the right of freedom of expression and information, for compliance with a legal obligation, on the grounds of public interest, or for the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims.
Art. 18 GDPR, right to restriction of processing:
You have the right to obtain restriction of processing if one of the prerequisites listed in Art. 18 GDPR applies. This concerns situations, for example, in which you objected to processing pending verification of whether our legitimate grounds override yours.
Art. 19 GDPR, right to notification:
If you asserted your right to correction, erasure or restriction of processing vis-à-vis the controller, the controller is obligated to notify all recipients to which the controller disclosed your personal data accordingly – unless such notification proves impossible or involves disproportionate effort. You have the right to be informed about those recipients.
Art. 20 DSGVO, right to data portability:
You have the right to receive the personal data provided to us or obtain transmission to a different controller, where technically feasible.
Art. 7 (3) GDPR, right to withdraw consent:
You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future. In this case, we will erase the data concerned without undue delay, unless further processing can be based on a legal basis for processing requiring no consent.
Art. 21 GDPR, right to object:
If the data is collected based on Article 6 (1) f GDPR (data processing for the purposes of legitimate interests), you have the right to object to the processing of this data at any time on grounds relating to your particular situation. We will then no longer process the personal data.
Art. 77 GDPR, right to lodge a complaint:
If you believe that the processing of personal data relating to you violates the GDPR, you can lodge a complaint with the data protection supervisory authority at any time.
12. Inquiries and feedback
Softing will be happy to respond to inquiries about your personal data as used by Softing, in particular where this involves legitimate requests for information or for the correction, amending or deletion of data.
If you have any other questions or suggestions regarding data protection, our data protection officer will be happy to advise you at any time. He can be reached at the following address:
Softing data protection officer:
Mr. Robert Jeffares
Data Business Services GmbH & Co KG
jeffares[at]db5[dot]eu
13. Online dispute resolution
The EU Commission provides an online platform for online dispute resolution (ODR platform) in consumer matters. You can reach this platform on the Internet at ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr/.
Last updated: February 2023