12th FOKUS
Media Web Symposium

June 24–25, 2025 – Berlin

Data Protection Information

When you use this website, we process your personal data as data controllers and save them for the duration required to fulfill the defined purposes and legal obligations. The sections below provide further details about the data this involves, how they will be processed and which rights you have in this regard.

Personal data, as defined by Article 4 (1) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) include all information related to an identified or identifiable natural person.

1 Scope of Application

2 Name and Contact Information of Controller and Corporate Data Protection Office

3 Personal Data Processing and Purposes of Data Processing

4 Transfer of Data

5 Cookies

6 Webanalyse/Tracking

7 Rights of the Data Subject

8 Data Security

9 Timeliness and Amendments to this Data Protection Information

1 Scope of Application

This data protection information applies to data processing all project websites , as well as to all associated project service offers in the form of web utilities or mobile apps (hereinafter: Website to facilitate readability), in each case whenever reference is made to this data protection information. The controller is:

2 Name and Contact Information of Controller and Corporate Data Protection Office

Fraunhofer Gesellschaft
zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.

Hansastrasse 27 c,
80686 München, Germany

on behalf of its
Fraunhofer Institut für Offene Kommunikationssysteme FOKUS

Kaiserin-Augusta-Allee 31
10589 Berlin
Germany

(hereinafter referred to as Fraunhofer-FOKUS)

E-Mail:
mws-event@fokus.fraunhofer.de

Tel:
+49 30 3463-7000

Fax:
+49 30 3463-99-7000

The corporate data protection officer at Fraunhofer can be reached at the above-mentioned address in Munich, c/o Data Protection Officer or at datenschutz@zv.fraunhofer.de.

Please feel free to contact the data protection officer directly at any time with your questions concerning your data protection rights and/or your rights as data subject.

Alternatively, you may want to send an email to our MWS contact at mws-event@fokus.fraunhofer.de.

3 Personal Data Processing and Purposes of Data Processing

When visiting the website

You may access our website without having to disclose any details on your identity. The browser installed on your device merely transmits information automatically to the server of our website (e.g., browser type and version, date and time of access) to enable a connection with the website. This includes the IP address of your requesting device. This information is temporarily stored in a so-called log file and will be deleted after 30 days.

Your IP address is processed for technical and administrative purposes regarding connection set-up and stability, to guarantee the security and functioning of our website and, if necessary, to be able to track any illegal attacks on the website.

The legal basis for processing the IP address is Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR. Our legitimate interest ensues from said security interest and the necessity of the unobstructed availability of our website.

We cannot draw any direct conclusions about your identity from processing the IP address and other information in the log file.

Moreover, we use cookies and analytics services when you visit our website. Further details can be found below in this data protection information.

When registering for events

We regularly offer a variety of events through our website, for which you can register online.

  • First and last name
  • Organization
  • Address
  • Email address
  • Payment information (only for events that require payment and depending on the method of payment you select)

Any other mandatory data are marked as such (e.g., with *). Often, additional information can be provided voluntarily.

The purpose of processing the mandatory data is to identify you as event participant, to reserve a spot for you as well as to establish and implement a contractual relationship regarding your participation, and to provide you before, during and after the event with information that will optimize your participation, and to help us plan and ensure a smooth event experience. If we collect your payment information for events that require payment, those data are needed to process the registration fee. Voluntary data allow us to plan and conduct the event based on participants’ interest.

We process data at your request, and it is mandatory pursuant to Article 6 (1) lit. b GDPR for the purposes named to fulfill the obligations of the participant agreement and implement precontractual measures.

We store the data we collect in the context of event registrations for 6 months unless you have consented to a longer storage period under Art. 6 (1) lit. a GDPR.

To accept event registrations via our online forms, we have commissioned the service provider Ellenbogen 8, D-91056 Erlangen („eveeno“). The purpose of working with the service provider is the professional management of online registrations. For this purpose the collected data are stored on the servers of  eveeno in Germany.

We have entered into a data processing agreement with eveeno. By concluding this contract with us, eveenoundertakes to process the data on our behalf in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and to ensure that the rights of the data subjects are protected.

Photos and videos will be taken to document the event in pictures. Since you can possibly be identified in these images, either directly or indirectly, they constitute personal data.

The images are created for Fraunhofer and will be used for news reporting directly associated with the event as well as for internal and external reporting by Fraunhofer.

Furthermore, the images will be published for the purpose of post-event reporting on our media platforms or on our website. This processing is required in particular to document our event and promote future events.

The legal basis for data processing is Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR. The purposes mentioned are legitimate interests within the meaning of the aforementioned provision.

The images will be stored for 10 years.

When subscribing to a newsletter or other email list

Once you have given your explicit consent pursuant to Art. 6 (1) lit. a GDPR, we will use your email address to regularly send you selected information about the work in our Institute and/or in other institutions and/or events of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. The subjects and contents of the selected information are determined by the list you subscribed to..

To receive our newsletter, we collect the following mandatory data from you:

  • Email address
  • Title
  • First name
  • Last name
  • Company

We need your name and title to address you personally in our newsletter.

You may voluntarily provide additional personal data (e.g. address and telephone number). We use this data to contact you by telephone or mail (e.g. for press invitations).

Once you have subscribed, you will receive a registration notification by email, which you need to confirm to receive the newsletter (so-called double opt-in). Your email response serves as confirmation that you are in fact the person who initiated the subscription.

You may unsubscribe at any time, e.g., via a link at the end of each newsletter. Alternatively, you may also unsubscribe by email fame-news@fokus.fraunhofer.de or by using the following link: https://www.fraunhofer.de/de/fraunhofer-newsletter-abmeldung.html.

Once we have received your cancellation of the newsletter subscription, we will immediately delete your email address.

Our service provider, the mailingwork GmbH, Hauptgeschäftssitz: Birkenweg 7, 09569 Oederan, sends our newsletter to your email address on our behalf. Mailingwork GmbH stores the email addresses of our newsletter recipients on their servers in Germany on our behalf.

Mailingwork GmbH uses the data of our newsletter subscribers for the purpose of sending and evaluating newsletters on our behalf. For this purpose, we entered into an order processing contract with mailingwork GmbH. By signing this contract, mailingwork GmbH, agrees to process the subscriber data in compliance with all General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and to guarantee the rights of all data subjects.

Mailingwork GmbH assures that personal data are protected in a comprehensive way from unauthorised access. Mailingwork GmbH itself does not use the data of our newsletter recipients to write to them or to forward the data to third parties. As reliable email sending service, mailingwork GmbH is certified by the Certified Senders Alliance.

When using contact forms

Our website gives visitors the opportunity to post comments on our articles and blog posts. Your comments will appear with your name below the article/post you are commenting on.

If you want to use the comment function on our website, we ask you to provide the following mandatory data:

  • Name and
  • Email address

Instead of your name, you may use a pseudonym/alias. The process requires that you provide your email address to send your comment. However, we do not publish your email address together with your comment. We use your email address only to inform you of a reaction to your comment.

In addition, when you post a comment on our website, we store your IP address, which we will delete after 30 days. This storage period is required so that we can defend ourselves against liability claims in case of publication of possibly illegal content.

The processing of data is in response to your comments and is justified in the context of publishing online contributions together with user reactions and on the basis of our legitimate interest in an opinion and information exchange pursuant to Article 6 (1) lit. f GDPR.

The personal data are processed for as long as the comment is published on the website and are then deleted.

4 Transfer of Data

If we transfer personal data collected through websites to processors, we will notify you in this data protection information regarding the respective data processing operation, citing the specific recipient.

Aside from that, we will transfer your personal data only if

  • you have given explicit consent pursuant to Art. 6 (1) lit. a GDPR;
  • this is necessary pursuant to Article 6 (1) lit. b GDPR for the performance of a contract with you (for example, transfer to shipping companies for the purpose of delivering goods ordered by you, or transmitting payment information to payment service providers or credit institutions in order to process a payment transaction);
  • there is a legal obligation for transfer pursuant to Art. 6 (1) lit. c GDPR.

The recipients must not use the transferred data for any purposes other than the above-mentioned ones.

5 Cookies

General
We use server-side cookies. Cookies are small files which are automatically created by your browser and stored in your device (PC, laptop, tablet, smartphone or similar device) once you visit our website. Cookies do not harm your computer, and they do not contain viruses, Trojans or other malware.

Cookies contain information pertaining to the specific device, which accessed our website. However, this does not provide us with direct knowledge of your identity.

One reason for us to use cookies is to make the use of our website more convenient for you. We use session cookies to allow session controls such as controls for inserting data into forms. At the latest, session cookies are deleted when you close your browser.

We also use temporary cookies to optimise the user-friendliness of our website. Your device stores these cookies temporarily for a specific time. Once you visit our website again, our server will recognise your device as prior visitor and remember your settings and preferences. You will not have to enter these parameters again.

We also use cookies to gather data for our website statistics. This helps us to evaluate and optimise our web offerings (see Section 5). These cookies allow us to recognise repeat visits from your device. These cookies will be deleted automatically after a specific time.

The data obtained with the help of cookies help us pursue our legitimate interests as website owners and serve the legitimate interests of third parties pursuant to the first sentence of Article 6(1), point (f) GDPR.

Most browsers accept cookies automatically. However, you are able to configure your browser in such a way that the application does not store cookies on your computer or always shows an alert before storing new cookies. However, the complete deactivation of cookies may prevent you from using all of the functions on our website.

Necessary cookies
The processing of personal data in the context of technically necessary cookies is based on our legitimate interest in providing our web services that you have expressly requested (Art. 6 (1) clause 1 lit. f GDPR, if applicable in conjunction with Art. 95 GDPR, Art. 5 (3) of Directive 2002/58/EC).

For example, we use so-called session cookies to allow session controls or to store data entries in forms or shopping carts during the session. Session cookies are deleted no later than when you close your browser.

Cookies to personalize our website
We use temporary cookies to optimize user-friendliness; these cookies are stored on your device. When you visit our site again to use our services, these cookies will automatically detect that you have visited in the past and will reapply your previous entries and settings so that you do not have to enter them again.

You can find the type and scope of the data processed and the providers that provide these cookies in the list of cookies we set.

Processing takes place within the scope of the GDPR (EU/EEA). There is no transfer to third countries. The legal basis for this processing is Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR.

Cookies to optimize our website (statistics cookies)
In addition, we use cookies to statistically record the use of our website for the purpose of optimizing our offers for you. When you visit our site again, these cookies make it possible for us to automatically recognize that you have already visited our site before.

You can find the type and scope of the data processed and the providers that provide these cookies in the list of cookies we set.

Processing takes place within the scope of the GDPR (EU/EEA). There is no transfer to third countries. The legal basis for this processing is Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR.

Right of withdrawal
You may revoke your consent to the storage of and access to the content of the cookies at any time with effect for the future pursuant to Art. 7 (3) GDPR or object to the use in whole or in part of cookies that are not technically necessary.

If you revoke your consent or object to the use, we will set a cookie (an opt-out cookie) that documents your decision and allows us to implement it. The opt-out cookie works only in this browser and only for our website. It is stored on your device. If you delete the cookies in this browser, you will have to set the opt-out cookie again.

Most browsers automatically accept cookies. However, you can configure your browser to not store any cookies on your computer or to display a notice before new cookies are set. Completely disabling cookies may mean that you cannot make full use of all functions of our website.

Your revocation has no effect on the lawfulness of the processing activities we perform on the basis of our legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) clause 1 lit. f) GDPR).

Cookie Overview

With this cookie policy, we would like to explain what cookies and cookie-like technologies are, how we and other service provider use them on this website, what information they collect, for how long and for what purposes we use them.

Table of contents

Controller of the website

Addition to the privacy policy

This cookie policy is a supplement to this website's privacy policy. The cookie policy specifies how a website uses cookies and what data it collects through them, while the privacy policy is a more comprehensive overview of all data processing activities on the website and beyond.

Cookies are small pieces of information similar to text files that can be stored and read on the end device. They serve various purposes, including maintaining basic functionalities of the website, security and privacy, providing optional functions of the website, collecting statistic data on visitor flows and providing marketing systems. Practical examples of what can be stored in cookies are the storage of login status in user accounts, the content of shopping baskets in e-commerce platforms, or a user ID for tracking behavior on the website.

The information can technically be stored in various ways. The best-known examples of this are HTTP cookies and cookie-like technologies like local storage, session storage or IndexedDB. Each type of storage has different properties, which determine the technical handling, accessibility and controllers authorized to access the information. All these types of storage are usually summarized under the term "cookies" and are therefore called as such in this cookie policy.

The setting and reading of cookies in the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) is in accordance with Art. 5 (3) ePrivacy Directive and Recital 66 ePrivacy Directive only permitted if a user has given his consent on the basis of comprehensive information about the purposes of the processing. The website operator may also set cookies if they are strictly necessary to provide you as a user with the expressly requested service, e.g. the basic content of this website or other strictly necessary cookies for basic functionality of the website to be displayed to you without your consent.

What rights does the website visitor have?

Services and their cookies can be set and read on the legal basis of your consent or a legitimate interest. When you first visited this website, you were asked for your consent and you had the opportunity to object to the use of certain services. We explained which legal basis is used for which service in our consent dialog.

You have the right to view the history of your decisions, change your privacy settings, object to the use of services and revoke your consent at any time. Below you find possibilities to exercise your rights:

How to manage cookies in a browser?

  • How to remove cookies in a browser: To remove cookies from your device, you can clear the browsing data in the settings of your browser. This action will remove all cookies from all websites you've visited, potentially including saved login details and site preferences. In some browsers, you can just delete the cookies and similar data without deleting the whole browsing history.
  • How to control cookies in a browser: For more granular control over cookies specific to certain websites, navigate to the privacy and cookie settings within your used browser. Here, you can adjust preferences related to individual sites' cookie usage.
  • How to block cookies in a browser: It's possible to configure most modern browsers in their settings to block all cookies from being placed on your device. But blocking cookies could lead to certain services and functionalities not functioning correctly, e.g. logins as a user. You can also use extensions for many browsers which can block the setting of cookies on websites.
  • How to manage cookies on this website: To tailor your preferences regarding cookies on this website, you can change your preferences at any time by clicking on the link in the section "Rights of the website visitor".

You can find more information on the handling of cookies devowl.io/rcb/cookie-handling/.

What types of cookies exist?

  • Essential cookies are indispensable for the basic functionality of a website and enable functions such as saving login information or access to secure areas of the site. These include, for example, security cookies, which can identify a bot that is not wanted on the website by storing an authentication key in a cookie.
  • Functional cookies improve the user experience by storing information and preferences such as language settings or appearance settings of the website to provide personalized. This includes, for example, preference cookies that store the user's preferred video quality on a website.
  • Statistics cookies collect data about the use of a website to gain insights into user behavior and optimize the performance of the site. This includes, for example, a randomly assigned user ID that makes it possible to attribute whether you have visited a subpage of the website.
  • Marketing cookies are used to track user behavior across different websites and to display personalized advertising based on the interests and surfing behavior of users. This includes, for example, advertising cookies that store an interaction with an advertisement on the website and pass it on to advertisers or a chat system for pre-sale questions and customer support.

Who can set cookies on this website?

On this website, both the operator of the website and third-party services which are used on this website may set cookies and access its content. Who can access which cookies and their content differs between first-party and third-party cookies. First-party cookies are created by the visited website and can only be read by the website operator and integrated third-party services on this website. Third-party cookies are set by usually third-party services on other domains, can be read on all websites on which the service that controls the domain is embedded and, for example, used by advertising networks to track user behavior across different websites and offer personalized advertising.

Which cookies are used on this website?

The cookie policy was last updated on 20. February 2025.

6 Webanalyse/Tracking

WP Statistics

Our website uses the WP Statistics plugin for Wordpress by Veronalabs (5460 W Main St, Verona, NY 13478, US) and its tracking pixel technology to analyze user behavior and optimize our site accordingly. The service particularly allows us to identify which users have visited our site. In so doing we do not obtain any information that may identify you directly.

The use of WP Statistics involves tracking pixels which allow statistical analysis of the use of this website based on your visits. Information, including personal information, about your visiting behavior is sent to Fraunhofer servers or is directly obtained by Fraunhofer. WP Statistics uses a pseudonym to process the information in a usage profile for the purpose of analysis. The data are anonymized to the extent possible.

Without your specific permission, we neither use the data collected to identify you personally nor will we match the data with personal data pertaining to the pseudonym associated with you.

If IP addresses are collected, they are immediately anonymized after collection by deleting the last number block.

For more information about data protection at WP Statistics, please visit the plugins’s website.

We process statistical data based on our legitimate interest pursuant to Article 6 (1) lit. f GDPR for the purpose of optimizing our online offering and our web presence.

7 Rights of the Data Subject

You have the right:

  • pursuant to Art. 7(3) GDPR, to withdraw your consent at any time. This means that we may not continue the data processing based on this consent in the future;
  • pursuant to Art. 15 GDPR, to obtain access to your personal data processed by us. In particular, you may request information about the purposes of the processing, the categories of personal data concerned, the categories of recipients to whom the personal data have been or will be disclosed, and the envisaged period for which the data will be stored. Moreover, you have the right to request rectification, erasure, or restriction of processing, to object to processing, the right to lodge a complaint, and to obtain information about the source of your data if they were not collected by us as well as about the existence of automated decision-making, including profiling, and, if applicable, meaningful information about the details involved;
  • pursuant to Art. 16 GDPR, to obtain without undue delay the rectification of inaccurate data or the completion of your personal data stored by us;
  • pursuant to Art. 17 GDPR, to obtain the erasure of personal data stored by us unless processing is necessary to exercise the right of freedom of expression and information, to comply with a legal obligation, for reasons of public interest, or to establish, exercise or defend legal claims;
  • pursuant to Art. 18 GDPR, to obtain restriction of processing of your personal data if you contest the accuracy of the data, the processing is unlawful but you oppose the erasure of the personal data, or if we no longer need the personal data while you still require it for establishing, exercising or defending legal claims, or if you have filed an objection to the processing pursuant to Art. 21 GDPR;
  • pursuant to Art. 20 GDPR, to receive your personal data that you have provided to us, in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format or to demand the transfer of those data to another controller and
  • pursuant to Art. 77 GDPR, the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. Generally, you may contact the supervisory authority of your usual residence, place of work or the registered offices of our organization.

Information on your right to object pursuant to Art. 21 GDP
You have the right to object, on grounds relating to your particular situation, at any time to processing of your personal data pursuant to Art. 6 (1) lit. e GDPR (data processing carried out in the public interest) and Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR (data processing for purposes of legitimate interests). This also applies to any profiling as defined in Art. 4 (4) GDPR that is based on said provision in Art. 6.

If you file an objection, we will no longer process your personal data unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for processing that override your interests, rights and freedoms, or unless the processing serves the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims.

If your objection is directed against the processing of data for the purpose of direct advertising, we will stop the processing immediately. In this case, citing a special situation is not necessary. This includes profiling to the extent that it is related to such direct advertising.

If you would like to assert your right to object, simply send an email to datenschutzkoordination@zv.fraunhofer.de.

8 Data Security

All your personal data are transmitted in encrypted format, using the widely used and secure TLS (Transport Layer Security) standard. TLS is a secure and proven standard that is also used, for instance, in online banking. You will recognize a secure TLS connection by the additional s after http (i.e., https://…) in the address bar of your browser or by the lock icon in the bottom part of your browser window.

In all other regards, we use suitable technical and organizational security measures to protect your data against accidental or intentional manipulations, partial or complete loss, destruction, or the unauthorized access of third parties. We continuously improve our security measures in accordance with the state of the art.

9 Timeliness and Amendments to this Data Protection Information

This data protection information as amended on February 2025 is currently applicable.

The further development of our website and the products and services offered or changed due to statutory or regulatory requirements, respectively, may make it necessary to amend this data protection information.  You may find the latest data protection information by clicking the link on this website: https://mws.fraunhofer.de/data-protection-information/. You may access and print out the latest data protection information at any time from our website.