Data Protection

DISCLAIMER: This is just a translation of the german privacy policy. You can find the german version of the privacy policy here.

Hinweis: Dies ist nur eine Übersetzung der deutschen Datenschutzerklärung. Das Original finden sie hier.


The Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V. (MPG) takes the protection of your personal data very seriously. We process gathered personal data when visiting our websites in compliance with applicable data protection legislation. We neither publish your data nor transmit them to third parties on an unauthorized basis. In the following section, we explain which data we record when you visit one of our websites, and exactly how they are utilized:

General information

Scope of data processing

As a matter of principle, we gather and utilize users' personal data only to the extent required to ensure the functioning of our website and of our contents and services. The gathering and utilization of our users' personal data normally occurs after users have granted their consent. An exception occurs where data processing is legally permitted.

Legal basis of data processing

To the extent that permission of the affected individual is obtained for the processing of personal data, Article 6 (1) lit. a of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) serves as the legal basis.

In the processing of personal data to fulfil a contract whose contractual party is the individual affected, Article 6 (1) lit. b GDPR serves as the legal basis. This also applies to processing required to implement pre-contractual measures.

Insofar as the processing of personal data is necessary to fulfill a legal obligation governing the MPG, Articel 6 (1) of the GDPR serves as the legal basis.

In the event that vital interests of the data subject or another natural person require the processing of personal data, Articel 6 (1) of the GDPR serves as the legal basis.

If processing is required to safeguard the justified interest of the MPG or a third party and the interests, basic rights and basic freedoms of the affected individual do not outweigh the first-mentioned interest, Article 6 (1) lit. f GDPR serves as the basis for such processing.

Data deletion and storage duration

The affected individual's personal data are deleted or blocked as soon as the purpose of the storage ceases to apply. Storage can also occur if provided for by European or national legislators in EU regulations, acts or other legislation to which the MPG is subject. A blocking or deletion of data then occurs only if a storage period prescribed by one of the aforementioned norms expires, unless a necessity exists in relation to the further storage of the data for the arrangement of a contract or the fulfilment of a contract.

Contact details of the individuals responsible

The entity responsible in 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
Telephone: +49 (89) 2108-0
Contact form: https://www.mpg.de/kontakt/anfragen
Internet: https://www.mpg.de

Data Protection Officer's contact details

The Data Protection Officer at the entity responsible is

Heidi Schuster
Hofgartenstrasse 8
D-80539 Munich
Telephone: +49 (89) 2108-1554
datenschutz@mpg.de

Provision of the website and creation of log files

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. These data are not stored together with the user's other personal data.

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 help us 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 data are deleted as soon as they are no longer required to achieve the purpose for which they were gathered. If data are gathered for the provision of the website, this is the case if the respective visit is ended. In the instance 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.

The recording of data for the provision of the website and the storage of data in log files is essential to operate the website. As a consequence, users do not have an option to revoke such data recording.

Utilization of cookies

Our website utilizes cookies. Cookies are text files stored in the Internet browser or by the Internet browser on the user's computer system. If a user visits a website, a cookie can be stored on the user's operating system. This cookie contains a sequence of characters enabling the browser to be clearly identified when visiting the website again.

We deploy cookies to make our website more user-friendly. Some elements of our website also technically require the identification of the visiting browser after a change of page.

The following data are saved and transmitted in the cookies:

  • wordpress_test_cookie (This cookie is deleted after the session is closed.)

The legal basis for personal data processing while utilizing cookies is Article 6 (1) lit. f GDPR as well as § 25 Section 2 Nr. 2 TTDSG. The purpose of utilizing technically necessary cookies is to simplify the utilization of websites for users. Some of our website's functions cannot be offered without the utilization of cookies. For these, it is absolutely necessary that the browser can also be re-identified following a change of page.

User data gathered by technically necessary cookies are not utilized to prepare user profiles. Our justified interest in personal data processing pursuant to Article 6 (1) lit. f GDPR also lies in such purposes.

Cookies are stored on the user's computer, which transmits them to our site. For this reason, you, as the user, also have full control over the utilization of cookies. You can deactivate or restrict the transmission of cookies through changing your Internet browser settings. Cookies that have already been saved can be deleted at any time. This can also occur automatically. If cookies for our website are deactivated, you may find not all of the website's functions can continue to be utilized in full.

Use of embedded YouTube videos

We use YouTube on our website. This is a video portal of YouTube LLC., 901 Cherry Ave., 94066 San Bruno, CA, USA, hereinafter referred to as "YouTube".

YouTube is a subsidiary of Google LLC., 1600 Amphitheater Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043 USA, hereinafter referred to as "Google".

Through certification under the EU-US Privacy Shield

Google and, by association, its subsidiary YouTube, guarantee that the processing of data in the USA, too, is in compliance with EU data protection requirements.

We use YouTube in connection with the "extended data protection mode" function to be able to show you videos. The legal basis is Article 6 (1) of the GDPR. Our legitimate interest lies in improving the quality of our website. According to YouTube, the "extended data protection mode" function means that the data specified below will only be transmitted to the YouTube server if you actually start a video.

Without this "extended data protection", a connection to the YouTube server in the USA will be established as soon as you call up one of our Internet pages on which a YouTube video is embedded.

This connection is necessary in order to be able to display the respective video on our website via your Internet browser, in the course of which YouTube will at least collect and process your IP address, the date and time as well as the website you visited. In addition, a connection to the "DoubleClick" advertising network from Google is established.

If you are logged in to YouTube at the same time, YouTube will assign the connection information to your YouTube account. If you want to prevent this, you must either log out of YouTube before visiting our website or make the appropriate changes to the settings in your YouTube user account.

For the purposes of functionality and analysis of usage behavior, YouTube permanently stores cookies on your device via your Internet browser. If you do not consent to this processing, you have the option of preventing cookies from being saved by making a setting in your Internet browser. You can find more information on this under "Cookies" above.

Google keeps further information on the collection and use of data as well as your rights and protection options in this regard available under data protection notices at:

Data Transmission

Your personal data will only be conveyed to state institutions and authorities in legally essential cases or for criminal prosecution based on attacks on our network infrastructure. The data are not transmitted to third parties for other purposes.

Rights of individuals affected

As an individual whose personal data are gathered as part of the aforementioned services, you have, in principle, the following rights, to the extent that no legal exceptions are applicable 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 Bavarian Data Protection Authority (BayLDA),Postbox 1349, 91504 Ansbach