Data protection information
The Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V. (MPG) takes the protection of your personal data very seriously. We process personal data gathered when visiting our websites in compliance with the applicable data protection legislation and, as a matter of principle, only to the extent that this is necessary to provide a functioning website and our content and services. We neither publish your data nor transmit them to third parties on an unauthorized basis.
In the following sections, we explain which data we record when you visit one of our websites, and how exactly they are utilized.
A. Provision of the website
a. Type of data
Each time you visit our website, our service and applications automatically record data and information from the computer system of the visiting computer.
The following data are gathered temporarily:
- Your IP address
- Date and time of your access to the website
- Address of the page visited
- Address of the previously visited website (referrer)
- Name and version of your browser/operating system (if transmitted)
These data are stored in our systems' log files. There is no storage of these data together with other personal data relating to the users.
- Legal basis
The legal basis for the temporary saving of data and log files is Article 6 (1) lit. f GDPR. Storage occurs in log files in order to ensure the website's functionality. The data also serve to optimize the websites, eliminate malfunctions and ensure our IT system security. Our justified interest in data processing pursuant to Article 6 (1) lit. f GDPR also lies in such purposes.
The recording of data for the provision of the website and the storage of data in log files are essential to operate the website. It is therefore not possible for the users to object.
- Data deletion
The data are deleted as soon as they are no longer required in order to fulfil the purpose of their collection. If data are gathered for the provision of the website, this is the case if the respective visit is ended. In the event that data are stored in log files, this is the case after seven days at the latest. Storage above and beyond this period is possible. In this case, the users' IP addresses are deleted or removed so they can no longer be allocated to the visiting client.
- Type of data
Our website uses cookies. Cookies are text files which are saved in or by the internet browser in the users’ computer systems. If a user accesses a website, a cookie is saved on the user's operating system. These cookies contain a characteristic string of characters which enables definitive identification of the browser the next time the website is accessed.
We use cookies in order to make our website more user-friendly. It is a technical requirement of certain elements of our website that the accessing browser can also be identified after a page change. In the process, the following data are saved and transmitted in cookies:
- Language settings (localisation) of the browser, functionality of the language switch DE-EN also when changing pages: Sessioncookie i18next
- Session data (click path, pages visited, current language, remembering form data (terms used in the internal site search) as well as error messages for forms, if applicable): Sessioncookie mpg_session_r
Cookies are saved on your computer and transmitted by the latter to our website. For this reason, you as the user also have full control over the use of cookies. By changing the settings in your internet browser, you can deactivate or limit the transmission of cookies. This can also happen on an automated basis. If cookies are deactivated for our website, the full range of functions of the website may not be entirely available for use.
- Legal basis
The legal basis for the processing of personal data by means of cookies is Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR as well as § 25, para. 2, no. 2 of the German Telecommunications-Telemedia Data Protection Act [TTDSG]. Some of the functions of our website cannot be offered without the use of cookies. For these, it is absolutely necessary that the browser is recognized even after a page change.
- Data deletion
The cookies are deleted after closing the session.
B. Web analysis
We use the web analytics programme Matomo for statistical data collection in relation to utilization behaviour; this programme uses cookies and JavaScript to collect various information on your computer and transmit this automatically to us. Each time our website is accessed, our system logs the following data and information from the accessing computer system:
- IP address, anonymized by means of abbreviation
- Two cookies to distinguish between different visitors: pk_id and pk_sess
- Previously visited URL (referrer) if communicated by the browser
- Name and version of the operating system
- Name, version and language setting of the browser.
The following data are collected additionally if JavaScript is activated:
- URLs visited on this website
- Times of page visits
- Type of HTML requests
- Screen resolution and colour depth
- Technologies and formats supported by the browser (e.g. cookies, Java, Flash, PDF, WindowsMedia, QuickTime, Realplayer, Director, SilverLight, Google Gears).
The saving and analysis of data is carried out solely on a central server operated by the MPG. In addition to the central website www.mpg.de, it is also used by most Max Planck Institutes and many MPG project websites.
It goes without saying that you have the opportunity to object to your data being collected. The following independent methods are available to you if you wish to object to data collection by the central server:
- In your browser, activate the Do-Not-Track setting. As long as this setting is active, our central server will not save any of your data. Important: Do-Not-Track generally only applies to the one device and browser on which the setting is activated. If you use several devices/browsers, you must activate Do-Not-Track separately on each one.
- Use our opt-out function. Click on the check mark in the following selection box under https://www.mpg.de/datenschutzhinweis/datenerhebung-deaktivieren in order to stop or reactivate data collection. As long as the selection box is deactivated, our central server will not save any of your data. Important: For the opt-out, we have to store a special recognition cookie in your browser. If you delete this or use a different PC/browser, you have to object to data collection once again on this page.
There is no storage of these data together with other personal data relating to the user.
The legal basis for the processing of personal data by means of cookies is Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR as well as § 25, para. 2, no. 2 TTDSG. The processing of the users' personal data enables us to analyze the usage behaviour of our users. By evaluating the data obtained, we are able to compile information on the use of the individual components of our websites. This helps us improve our websites and their user-friendliness on an ongoing basis. These purposes also constitute our legitimate interest in data processing according to Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR as well as § 25, para. 2, no. 2 TTDSG. By anonymizing the IP address, the users' interest in the protection of their personal data is sufficiently taken into account.
The data are deleted after the final annual totals have been arrived at for access statistics.
C. Push Notifications
On our website, it is possible to activate push notifications for the browser. For this purpose, the login time and a push token or device ID are stored. On the one hand, these data serve to be able to send you the push notifications and, on the other hand, as proof of your registration. As part of the activation process, we obtain your consent and refer you to this Data Privacy Statement. The data are solely used for sending out the push notifications. Tracking or the collection of statistics is not performed.
The subscription can be activated via the bell symbol next to the search field by placing a check mark in the selection field. For this to function, receiving notifications must be activated in the browser. The notifications are limited to the browser used when activating the push notifications; for use in further browsers, the push notifications must be activated separately. Notifications are only delivered when the browser is open.
The legal basis for processing the data after a user signs up for push news is the user's consent according to Art. 6 (1) lit. a GDPR. The purpose of data collection is to be able to send out the push news.
The user's token is therefore only saved for as long as the subscription to the push news is active. The subscription to the push news can be cancelled by the user in question at any time.
In the same way as activation, deactivation is carried out via the bell. Removing the check mark from the selection box deactivates the subscription.
D. Data transmission
The management and storage of your personal details is carried out by selected services
- Push Notifications (Section C)
within the scope of commissioned data processing on systems of our service providers.
Your personal data are only transmitted to public institutions and authorities if legally required or for the purpose of criminal prosecution due to attacks on our network infrastructure. The data are not shared with third parties for any other purposes.
E. General details
The controller within the meaning of the General Data Protection Regulation and other national data protection acts as well as other data protection legislation is the
Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V. (MPG)
Hofgartenstrasse 8
D-80539 Munich, Germany
Telephone: +49 (89) 2108-0
Contact form: https://www.mpg.de/kontakt/anfragen
Internet: https://www.mpg.de
The controller’s data protection officer is
Data Protection Officer of the MPG
Hofgartenstrasse 8
D-80539 Munich, Germany
Telephone: +49 (89) 2108-1554
F. Rights of the data subjects
As a data subject whose personal data are collected in the context of the above-mentioned services, you generally have the following rights unless legal exceptions apply in individual cases:
- Information (Article 15 GDPR)
- Correction (Article 16 GDPR)
- Deletion (Article 17 (1) GDPR)
- Restriction of processing (Article 18 GDPR)
- Data transmission (Article 20 GDPR)
- Revocation of processing (Article 21 GDPR)
- Revocation of consent (Article 7 (3) GDPR)
- Right to complain to the regulator (Article 77 GDPR). For the MPG, this is the Bayerische Landesamt für Datenschutzaufsicht [Bavarian Data Protection Authority], Postfach 1349, 91504 Ansbach, Germany.
H. Processing of Personal Data in the Context of Social Media Campaigns and Newsletter Distribution
- Data Collection in the Context of Social Media Campaigns
As part of our social media campaigns (e.g., on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.), we offer interested parties the opportunity to sign up for receiving information and newsletters. In this process, personal data (such as name and email address) is collected through an opt-in procedure. This data is used solely for the purpose of sending you information about our offers, news, and events via email.
The processing of your personal data is based on your voluntary consent according to Art. 6 Para. 1 lit. a GDPR. You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future by using the unsubscribe link in each of our emails or by contacting us directly.
- Newsletter Distribution
When you sign up for our newsletter via our website, social media campaigns, or partner platforms (such as study program search portals), we process your personal data (particularly your name and email address) for the purpose of regularly sending our newsletter. This contains information about our offers, news, and events.
For the distribution of our newsletter, we use the service provider Rapidmail, with whom we have concluded a data processing agreement in accordance with Art. 28 GDPR. Rapidmail processes your data exclusively on our instructions and in compliance with applicable data protection regulations.
The personal data you provide when signing up for the newsletter will be stored until you revoke your consent. You can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in every email or by contacting us directly.
- Data Sharing and Third-Party Providers
We do not share your personal data with third parties without your explicit consent, unless it is necessary to fulfill our obligations (e.g., through the use of service providers like Rapidmail). The service providers we use have been carefully selected and process your data exclusively within the framework of a data processing agreement in accordance with Art. 28 GDPR.
- Rights of Data Subjects
You have the right to request information about the data we have stored about you at any time, as well as to demand the correction, deletion, or restriction of the processing of your data. Furthermore, you can revoke your consent to receive the newsletter at any time.