1. About this privacy notice
This notice explains how the independent Mittelstand United website handles the limited personal data involved in providing the website and answering messages.
Mittelstand UnitedIndependent information website
Email: admin@whygermany.org
2. Accessing this website
When a website is delivered, the hosting server normally processes technical request data. This can include the IP address, date and time, requested page or file, referrer URL, browser and operating system information, response status and transferred data volume.
This processing is necessary to deliver the website, maintain technical stability and protect the service against misuse. The legal basis is Article 6(1)(f) GDPR. The legitimate interests are secure, reliable and efficient website operation.
Technical logs are handled by the website's hosting service and are retained only for operational security, fault diagnosis and protection against misuse, subject to the hosting service's applicable retention periods.
3. Contact by email
If you contact us by email, we process the details you provide, such as your name, email address, message and attachments, to answer your enquiry and manage the resulting correspondence.
The legal basis is Article 6(1)(f) GDPR and the legitimate interest in responding to relevant correspondence. Where consent is requested for a separate purpose, Article 6(1)(a) GDPR applies.
We retain correspondence only for as long as needed for the enquiry and any related relationship, then delete it unless statutory record keeping duties or legal claims require longer retention. Email delivery also involves the mail providers used by the sender and recipient.
5. External links and social media
This website contains ordinary links to external organisations and to LinkedIn. No data is sent to those services merely because the link appears on a page. When you follow a link, the destination provider receives the information transmitted by your browser and applies its own privacy policy.
6. Recipients, transfers and retention
Personal data is shared only where needed to operate the website, deliver email or comply with a legal obligation. Service providers acting on our behalf must process data under appropriate contractual safeguards.
If a service provider processes data outside the European Economic Area, the transfer must be covered by an adequacy decision or other safeguards recognised under the GDPR.
We keep personal data only for the period required for its purpose, applicable legal obligations or the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.
7. Your data protection rights
Subject to the conditions in the GDPR, you may request access to your personal data, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing and data portability. You may object to processing based on Article 6(1)(f) GDPR on grounds relating to your particular situation. You may withdraw consent at any time for the future.
To exercise these rights, email admin@whygermany.org. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection supervisory authority, particularly in the EU member state of your habitual residence, place of work or the place of the alleged infringement.
8. Security and policy changes
We use appropriate technical and organisational measures suited to the nature and scope of the website. Internet transmission can still carry risks, so absolute security cannot be guaranteed.
We will update this policy when the website, its providers or legal requirements change. The version published on this page is the current version.