The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is committed to protecting the privacy of your personal data. Therefore, we collect and process the personal data of our users only to the extent necessary.
We need to collect certain information when you visit our website so you can fully use the services available.
This privacy statement contains information about the type of data we collect about you, how we use that data, when we delete that data and what your rights are in this regard.
All personal data collected in connection with the use of our website is processed in accordance with the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG).
1. General information
Data controller, data protection officer, complaints office
The data controller responsible for the processing of personal data in line with the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is the
Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Dahlmannstrasse 4
53113 Bonn
Germany
E-mail: poststelle@bmz.bund.de
If you have any specific questions concerning the protection of your data, please contact the data protection officer at the BMZ.
E-mail: Datenschutzbeauftragter@bmz.bund.de
Personal data
Personal data means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. A natural person is deemed to be identifiable if he or she can be directly or indirectly identified, especially by being assigned to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, or online identification data. The type of data collected, the purpose for which and the basis on which it is collected and processed depends largely on the type of service used by you, or on the purpose for which it is needed.
Protection of minors
Anyone younger than 18 should not submit personal data to the BMZ without the consent of a parent or guardian. If such data is required for a visit to the BMZ, the rules given at number 3 (Quiz) apply.
Your rights
You have the following rights: right of access (Article 15 GDPR), right to rectification (Article 16 GDPR), right to erasure (Article 17 GDPR), right to restriction of processing (Article 18 GDPR), right to data portability (Article 20 GDPR), right to object vis-à-vis the BMZ (Article 21 GDPR) and the right to withdraw consent (Article 7(3) GDPR).
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the
Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information
Husarenstr. 30
53117 Bonn
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)228 99 77 99-0
E-mail: poststelle@bfdi.bund.de
Internet: http://www.bfdi.bund.de (in German)
In order to perform its public relations tasks and provide information to the general public via the website, the BMZ uses personal data collected during website use. This also includes data that data subjects have submitted to the BMZ or that the BMZ has collected on them via third parties. To inform you about the processing of data and your rights and comply with our duty to provide information (Articles 13 and 14 GDPR), we have compiled an overview of the different types of data and how it is processed:
2. Processing of data when this website is visited
Data collection
Whenever you visit the BMZ’s website, we process data that is needed for statistical evaluation. The following data is stored:
- the user’s IP address
- the type and version of your Internet browser
- the operating system used
- the date and time of retrieval
- the amount of data transmitted
- the file path
The legal basis for such temporary data storage is Article 6 (1) (e) GDPR.
The data is used for optimising the website.
Server log files are deleted after 6 months.
Cookie policy
Cookies are a technology which can be used to provide you with tailored information from a website. A cookie is an element of data that a website can send to your browser, which may then store it on your system.
The BMZ occasionally uses cookies so that we can support you more effectively when you return to our website. The legal basis for the use of cookies is Article 1 (1) (e) GDPR in conjunction with section 3 BDSG. You can set your browser to notify you when you receive a cookie, giving you the chance to decide whether to accept it.
In Mozilla Firefox, you can check and change these settings by clicking on the Menu button (top right) – Options – Privacy & Security.
In Google Chrome, you can check and change these settings by clicking on the Menu button (top right) – Settings – Privacy and security – Content settings – Cookies.
In Internet Explorer, you can check and change these settings by clicking Tools (Alt + X) – Internet options – Privacy – Advanced.
If you do not wish to allow us to store and analyse your browsing information on the site, you may opt out by using the following mechanism. An opt-out cookie will be placed on your browser, preventing us from collecting any session data from you. Please note that if at any point you choose to delete all the cookies on your computer, the opt-out cookie will be deleted, too. In that case, you would need to renew your opt-out choice.
Opt out
You are entitled to object to such data collection and storage at any time with effect for the future.
You can choose to prevent a unique web analytics cookie identification number being assigned to your computer. This will prevent the aggregation and analysis of various statistical data concerning your visits to this website.
If you wish to change your cookie settings, please click below:
Matomo web analytics application
Based on Article 6 (1) (e) GDPR in conjunction with Section 3 BDSG, the BMZ analyses information on website use for statistical purposes in the context of PR work and in order to provide demand-based information on the tasks performed by the BMZ. It does so using the web analysis service Matomo.
When individual pages of our website are accessed, the following data is stored:
- page title
- search terms referring users to the page
- search engines
- page URL
- number of pages visited
- user location (country)
- provider
- browser
- operating system
- screen resolution
- browser plugins
- when the web page was accessed
- length of time spent on the page
- entry pages
- exit pages
- downloads
- referring websites.
Matomo uses cookies, which are text files placed on your computer for the purpopse of analysing use of our website. Data ownership of the information generated by the cookie about your use of the website remains with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Prior to storage, your IP address is anonymised.
To do this, the user information generated by the cookie, including your truncated IP address, is sent to our server and stored there to analyse the use of our website. This enables us to optimise the website. Every time a user accesses a page on our website, and every time a file is downloaded, that information is stored in a log file. The data stored is evaluated for statistical purposes only. No data is passed on to third parties.
You can disable cookies by adjusting your browser settings accordingly (see instructions on this page). However, if you disable cookies, you may not be able to use all functions of this website.
By using this website, you agree to the BMZ processing your data as described above and for the purpose described above. All IP addresses will be truncated to anonymise them.
If you are asked for any personal details when using our services, it is entirely at your discretion whether to provide them or not. Your personal data will be stored and processed in line with the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
3. Processing of data in the context of providing information
How personal data is processed depends on the form in which information is provided. In the following, we distinguish between the provision of information through newsletters and through brochures and other media.
Newsletter
The BMZ newsletter is distributed by e-mail. It contains the latest news on German development cooperation and the BMZ and interesting background information.
If you are asked for any personal details when using our services, it is entirely at your discretion whether to provide them or not. The BMZ will store the personal data collected in connection with the newsletter (last name, first name, company/organisation, e-mail address, date and time you signed up for the newsletter) on a server for the purpose of handling the newsletter and answering your queries. The legal basis for the storage of such data is Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR. No information will be passed on to third parties. Your data will not be processed or used for the purpose of advisory services, advertising or market research.
If you do not consent to the storage and use of your data, this data will automatically be deleted after 30 days. If you explicitly confirm your subscription, the data will be stored permanently until you cancel your subscription.
If you unsubscribe, all personal data will be deleted from our database.
Register for press information
If you are a journalist and would like to be kept informed about all important dates, press conferences and other BMZ events, you can request inclusion in our e-mail list. The personal data collected in connection with the e-mail list (last name, first name, e-mail address) will be stored on a server for the purpose of sending you e-mails. The legal basis for the storage of this data is Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR. No data will be passed on to third parties. Your data will not be processed or used for the purpose of advisory services, advertising or market research.
Your data will be stored permanently until you explicitly ask to be deleted from the e-mail list.
Ordering brochures and other media
The personal data collected through this website (contact data) is used for the purpose of handling your order and processing your enquiry. The legal basis for the storage of such data is Article 6 (1) (e) GDPR. Two service providers dispatch brochures and other ordered media on our behalf. To this end, the personal data we collect when you place your order will be passed on to these service providers. Beyond that, your data will not be passed on to any other third party. Your data will not be processed or used for the purpose of advisory services, advertising or market research.
In compliance with the data minimisation principle, personal data is processed only to the extent necessary to implement the processes described above.
This data is stored by our internet service provider Babiel GmbH for a maximum of 7 days in the event that quantities need to be approved by the BMZ. In all other cases, no data is stored by Babiel GmbH. Once the order form has been sent, the data provided will be passed on to our dispatch service provider (IBRo Versandservice GmbH, Kastanienweg 1, 18184 Roggentin). The transmitted data is deleted three months after completion of the order.
Visitors
The BMZ regularly receives visitor groups who register using our contact form for information visits, and individual visitors for specific occasions. The mandatory information to be provided in the contact form (last name, e-mail address, office address, telephone number, group size (15–55 people)) and any information submitted voluntarily (simulation game for groups of pupils from grade 9 upwards, programme for primary school pupils from grade 3 upwards, requests for topics to be covered during the visit, preferred date and time of visit) is used to individually prepare and organise the visit to the BMZ. The legal basis for processing such data is Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR. By ticking the box, you give your consent that we may use this data. After the visit has ended, your data will be deleted.
Quiz
If you wish to participate in the BMZ’s quiz games (e.g. the advent calendar quiz or the “checkdeinewelt” quiz), you need to register first. The registration is not complete until you have explicitly confirmed it.
Your personal data will be stored and processed in accordance with the GDPR. The personal data collected in connection with the quiz competition will be used to run the raffle and will be stored permanently until you explicitly revoke your consent to data storage.
The legal basis for storing this data is Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR. No data will be passed on to third parties. Your data will not be processed or used for the purpose of advisory services, advertising or market research.
4. Information on data processing when using the BMZ’s social media platforms
The Internet platforms of the social media channels provide an excellent opportunity for federal authorities to communicate, network and engage with the general public. Therefore, the BMZ has decided to set up its own accounts on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. We would be delighted to have you visit these platforms to obtain information on our work and to share your opinions with us.
We take the current discussions about data privacy in social networks very seriously. Whether and to what extent all networks are offering their services in compliance with European provisions on data privacy has not yet been fully clarified from a legal perspective.
We therefore wish to explicitly point out that the services used by the BMZ, such as YouTube (terms of use), Facebook (terms of use, page controller addendum = information on page insights/analytics services), Twitter (terms of use) and Instagram (terms of use) store user data in accordance with their own data processing terms and guidelines, and use such data for commercial purposes. The BMZ does not have any influence over the collection and further use of data by social networks. For example, we have no information about data storage (extent, location, length of time), compliance with deletion requirements, analysis and linking of data, and recipients of transmitted data.
It can be assumed, however, that your data will be passed on to third parties. The BMZ has no influence over this.
For now, we ask you that you yourself consider carefully what personal data you reveal when using social media. Please check your privacy settings regularly when using social networks.
5. Information on the processing of personal data when you contact the BMZ
Contact by e-mail
You can contact the BMZ by e-mail either using the personal e-mail addresses of BMZ staff members, the e-mail addresses of the organisational units of the BMZ, or the central e-mail address poststelle@bmz.bund.de. All personal data stored in this context (contact data: e-mail address, last name, first name, address) will be deleted once it has been forwarded to the appropriate organisational unit of the Ministry.
For the purpose of contacting you and processing your request, the data you have transmitted will be stored in the respective organisational units in line with the periods for the retention of records set out in the Registry Guidelines (in German).
The legal basis for processing this data is Article 6 (1) (e) GDPR in conjunction with section 3 BDSG.
Contacting non-BMZ entities via e-mail
The BMZ website also lists e-mail addresses of non-BMZ entities (e.g. Engagement Global, Agency for Business and Development, GIZ; without @bmz.bund.de as part of their e-mail address). If you use these e-mail addresses to get in contact with any of these third parties, the BMZ has no responsibility for the processing of your personal data. If you have any questions about how your personal data is processed by such third parties, please contact them directly.
Contacting us via the contact form on the BMZ website
You can also contact the BMZ via our contact form. If you use the contact form, you need to enter your last name, your e-mail address, the topic you are interested in and your message, and consent to the forwarding of your request. Your request cannot be processed without this data. If your data is forwarded, it will be stored in line with the periods for the retention of records set out in the Registry Guidelines (in German). If you send us a message using the contact form or by e-mail, we will assume that we are authorised to answer by e-mail. Otherwise, you must expressly specify another type of communication.
The legal basis for processing the transmitted data is Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR.
This data is processed by the BMZ Internet Editors. The data is stored exclusively for processing your request and in compliance with the legal provisions. Once your query has been processed, the data will be deleted immediately.
6. Video surveillance
To prevent trespassing and for the purposes of averting danger and for law enforcement, the BMZ property surrounding its buildings is monitored by video cameras. The cameras are in constant operation The video recordings are stored on internal film servers subject to strict access restrictions until the storage capacity has been reached. Subsequently, the oldest data is overwritten. All video recordings are deleted after 7 days unless they are needed to avert an immediate danger or to prosecute a criminal offence or a misdemeanour.
For video surveillance, the following data is stored:
- video without sound
- time of the recording
- file name
- file type
- size and date of recording
- client/owner.
7. Events
In order to carry out its public tasks, the BMZ regularly hosts events with internal and external participants.
Personal data is processed for the purpose of participant management. Participant lists may be on display at the event venue, and photos/video recordings may be made of people attending BMZ events.
Photos/videos commissioned by the BMZ are used in our public relations work. Participants who do not wish to be photographed/recorded on video are kindly requested to avoid areas where photos are being taken/filming is in process and/or communicate their wishes to the photographer/videographer as appropriate. The photos/videos are made available as part of our public relations work both to the general public (especially via publications and the BMZ’s website) and internally to BMZ staff (intranet, shared hard drives). N.B.: please note that we have no influence over any videos/photos made or taken by members of the press and media representatives. Press and media representatives are data controllers in their own right within the meaning of the GDPR.
The legal basis for the data processing is Article 6 (1) (e) GDPR in conjunction with section 3 BDSG.
Such personal data relating to you is contact data and photos/videos.
There is no intention to transfer your data to a recipient in a third country or to an international organisation.
Your data will be deleted after 5 years.
Participation in BMZ events is not possible unless you provide your contact data.