Data protection and privacy

The protection of personal data is a particularly high priority for us. We provide this (automatic/machine based) translation of our German data protection statement (according to the GDPR), only as a service. The legally binding version is the German version of this policy, provided on our website as "Datenschutzerklärung" (link in the website footer). The German version precedes and supersedes this translation (for information purposes only).

The use of the Internet pages of the ME/CFS Research Foundation gGmbH (hereinafter referred to as "ME/CFS Research Foundation") is possible without any indication of personal data. However, if a data subject wants to use special services via our website, processing of personal data could become necessary. If such processing is necessary and there is no legal basis for it, we will obtain the consent of the data subject.

The processing of personal data, such as the name, address, e-mail address, or telephone number of a data subject shall always be in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and in accordance with the country-specific data protection regulations applicable to the ME/CFS Research Foundation. With this data protection declaration, we inform you about the type, scope and purpose of the personal data collected, used and processed by us. Furthermore, data subjects are informed of their rights by means of this data protection declaration.

As the controller, the ME/CFS Research Foundation has implemented numerous technical and organisational measures to ensure the most complete protection of personal data processed through this website. However, Internet-based data transmissions can always be subject to security vulnerabilities, so that absolute protection cannot be guaranteed. For this reason, every data subject is free to transmit personal data to us by alternative means, such as by telephone, if necessary.

Definitions of the terms used (e.g. "personal data" or "processing") can be found in Art. 4 GDPR.

We reserve the right to amend this data protection declaration from time to time so that it always complies with the current legal requirements or in order to implement changes to our services in the data protection declaration, e.g. when introducing new services. The new data protection statement will then apply to your next visit.

1. The name and address of the controller

The responsible party within the meaning of the General Data Protection Regulation, other data protection laws applicable in the Member States of the European Union and other provisions of a data protection nature is:

ME/CFS Research Foundation gGmbH
Managing Director: Joerg Heydecke
Ballindamm 27
D-20095 Hamburg
E-Mail: datenschutz@mecfs-research.org
Website: http://www.mecfs-research.org/

(hereinafter referred to as the "responsible person"). 

2. Hosting and providing our website and log files

 The responsible party hosts this website with the provider IONOS SE, Elgendorfer Str. 57, 56410 Montabaur (hereinafter "IONOS").
 
When visiting the website of the responsible party, IONOS collects data on accesses to the website and stores these as "log files". Details of this can be found at the following address: https://www.ionos.de/terms-gtc/terms-privacy
 
When visiting the website of the responsible party, IONOS collects data on accesses to the website and stores these as "log files". Details of this can be found at the following address:
 
- Visited website
- Time at the time of access
- Amount of data sent in bytes
- Source/reference from which you reached the page
- Browser used
- Operating system used
- Host name of the accessing computer
- IP address used
 
Log files are collected for a technically error-free presentation and optimisation of the website. This results in the legitimate interest of the responsible party. The responsible party uses the data for the presentation and delivery of its content as well as for statistical purposes and to secure our information technology systems. An evaluation of the data for marketing purposes does not take place in this context.
 
The legal basis for the temporary storage of the data and the log files is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO.
 
Unless otherwise stated in this data protection declaration, your data will only ever be stored for the time until the purpose required for the data processing is achieved or no longer applies and will then be automatically deleted, unless longer storage is required by other legal provisions (e.g. reasons under tax law). 
 
This site uses SSL encryption to protect your data. 
 

3. Cookies

The responsible party uses cookies to make its website more user-friendly. Some elements of the website of the responsible party require that the calling browser can be identified even after a page change. 

The legal basis for the processing of personal data using cookies is Art. 6 (1) lit. f DSGVO.

Common browsers offer the setting option to not allow cookies. Note: It is not guaranteed that you will be able to access all functions of this website without restrictions if you make the corresponding settings.

4. Donations

Clicking on the "Donate now" button or the "Donate" tab will take you to the Donate subpage. Here you have the option of making a donation to the ME/CFS Research Foundation by bank transfer. The responsible person receives the following data through the payment process:
• Name
• IBAN and BIC or account number and bank code
- Subject of the transfer (if applicable, purpose of donation in the case of a restricted donation)
The responsible person requires the aforementioned data for the processing of donations. This results in the legitimate interest. 
The legal basis for the collection of data for the processing of donations is Art. 6 para. 1 p. 1 lit. b DSGVO. 
 
The data will be stored for as long as is necessary for the processing of donations.
 

5. Contact via our website

It is possible for you to contact the person responsible via the e-mail addresses provided on the pages. In this case, the personal data transmitted with the e-mail will be stored.

In this context, the data will not be passed on to third parties. The data is used exclusively for processing the conversation and in the event of follow-up questions.

The processing of personal data serves the sole purpose of processing the contact. In the case of contact by e-mail, this also constitutes the necessary legitimate interest in processing the data.

If your request relates to a potential or completed donation or other pre-contractual measure or implementation of another contract with the responsible party, the legal basis for the data processing is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b DSGVO. In other cases, the legal basis for the processing of data transmitted in the course of sending an e-mail is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO.

The data is deleted as soon as it is no longer required to achieve the purpose for which it was collected. For personal data sent by e-mail, this is the case when the respective conversation with the user has ended. The conversation is ended when the circumstances indicate that the matter in question has been conclusively clarified. You can also request deletion at any time. Legal storage obligations remain unaffected by this.

6. Your rights

If your personal data is processed, you are a data subject within the meaning of the GDPR and you have the following rights against the controller of the processing:

1. right to information

You may request confirmation from the controller as to whether personal data concerning you is being processed by us. If such processing is taking place, you can request the following information from the controller:
(1) the purposes for which the personal data are processed;
(2) the categories of personal data which are processed;
(3) the recipients or categories of recipients to whom the personal data concerning you have been or will be disclosed;
(4) the planned duration of the storage of the personal data relating to you or, if specific information on this is not possible, criteria for determining the storage duration;
(5) the existence of a right to rectify or erase personal data concerning you, a right to have processing restricted by the controller or a right to object to such processing;
(6) the existence of a right of appeal to a supervisory authority;
(6) the existence of a right of appeal to a supervisory authority;
(8) the existence of automated decision-making, including profiling, pursuant to Article 22(1) and (4) of the GDPR and, at least in those cases, meaningful information about the logic involved and the scope and intended effects of such processing for the data subject.

You have the right to request information on whether personal data concerning you is transferred to a third country or to an international organisation. In this context, you may request to be informed about the appropriate safeguards pursuant to Art. 46 of the GDPR in connection with the transfer.

2. right of rectification

You have a right of rectification and/or completion vis-à-vis the controller if the personal data processed concerning you are inaccurate or incomplete. The controller shall carry out the rectification without undue delay.

3. right to restriction of processing

You may request the restriction of the processing of personal data concerning you under the following conditions:

(1) if you contest the accuracy of the personal data concerning you for a period enabling the controller to verify the accuracy of the personal data;
(2) the processing is unlawful and you object to the erasure of the personal data and request instead the restriction of the use of the personal data;
(3) the controller no longer needs the personal data for the purposes of processing but you need them for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims; or
(4) if you have objected to the processing pursuant to Art. 21 (1) DSGVO and it has not yet been determined whether the legitimate grounds of the controller override your grounds.
Where the processing of personal data relating to you has been restricted, such data may be processed, with the exception of storage, only with your consent or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims or for the protection of the rights of another natural or legal person or for reasons of substantial public interest of the Union or of a Member State. If the restriction of processing has been restricted in accordance with the above conditions, you will be informed by the controller before the restriction is lifted.

4. right to erasure

a. Obligation to delete

You may request the controller to erase the personal data concerning you without delay and the controller is obliged to erase this data without delay if one of the following reasons applies:

(1) The personal data concerning you are no longer necessary for the purposes for which they were collected or otherwise processed.
(2) You revoke your consent on which the processing was based pursuant to Art. 6(1)(a) or Art. 9(2)(a) DSGVO and there is no other legal basis for the processing.
(3) You object to the processing pursuant to Article 21(1) of the GDPR and there are no overriding legitimate grounds for the processing, or you object to the processing pursuant to Article 21(2) of the GDPR.
(4) The personal data concerning you have been processed unlawfully.
(5) The erasure of personal data concerning you is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation under Union or Member State law to which the controller is subject
(6) The personal data concerning you has been collected in relation to information society services offered pursuant to Art. 8(1) DSGVO.

b. Information to third parties

If the controller has made the personal data concerning you public and is obliged to erase it pursuant to Article 17(1) of the GDPR, it shall take reasonable steps, including technical measures, having regard to the available technology and the cost of implementation, to inform data controllers which process the personal data that you, as the data subject, have requested that they erase all links to, or copies or replications of, that personal data.

c. Exceptions

The right to erasure does not exist insofar as the processing is necessary

(1) to exercise the right to freedom of expression and information;
(2) for compliance with a legal obligation which requires processing under Union or Member State law to which the controller is subject or for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller;
(3) for reasons of public interest in the area of public health pursuant to Art. 9(2)(h) and (i) and Art. 9(3) DSGVO;
(4) for archiving purposes in the public interest, scientific or historical research purposes or statistical purposes pursuant to Article 89(1) of the GDPR, where the right referred to in Section (a) is likely to render impossible or seriously prejudice the achievement of the purposes of such processing; or
(5) to assert, exercise or defend legal claims.

5. right to information

If you have asserted the right to rectification, erasure or restriction of processing against the controller, the controller is obliged to notify all recipients to whom the personal data concerning you have been disclosed of this rectification or erasure of the data or restriction of processing, unless this proves impossible or involves a disproportionate effort. You have the right against the controller to be informed about these recipients.

6. right to data portability

You have the right to receive the personal data concerning you that you have provided to the controller in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format. You also have the right to transmit this data to another controller without hindrance from the controller to whom the personal data has been provided, provided that

(1) the processing is based on consent pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a DSGVO or Art. 9 para. 2 lit. a DSGVO or on a contract pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b DSGVO and 
(2) the processing is carried out with the aid of automated procedures.

In exercising this right, you also have the right to have the personal data concerning you transferred directly from one controller to another controller, insofar as this is technically feasible. This must not affect the freedoms and rights of other persons. The right to data portability does not apply to the processing of personal data necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller.

7. right of objection

You have the right to object at any time, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to the processing of personal data concerning you which is carried out on the basis of Article 6(1)(e) or (f) DSGVO; this also applies to profiling based on these provisions. The controller shall no longer process the personal data concerning you unless it can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override your interests, rights and freedoms, or the processing serves the purpose of asserting, exercising or defending legal claims.

If the personal data concerning you is processed for the purpose of direct marketing, you have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you for the purpose of such marketing; this also applies to profiling, insofar as it is related to such direct marketing.

If you object to processing for direct marketing purposes, the personal data concerning you will no longer be processed for these purposes.

You have the possibility, in connection with the use of information society services, notwithstanding Directive 2002/58/EC, to exercise your right to object by means of automated procedures using technical specifications.

8. right to revoke the declaration of consent under data protection law

You have the right to revoke your declaration of consent under data protection law at any time. The revocation of consent does not affect the lawfulness of the processing carried out on the basis of the consent until the revocation.

9. automated decision in individual cases including profiling

You have the right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing, including profiling, which produces legal effects concerning you or similarly significantly affects you. This does not apply if the decision

(1) is necessary for the conclusion or performance of a contract between you and the controller,
(2) is authorised by legislation of the Union or the Member States to which the controller is subject and that legislation contains adequate measures to safeguard your rights and freedoms and your legitimate interests; or
(3) is done with your express consent.

However, these decisions may not be based on special categories of personal data pursuant to Article 9(1) of the GDPR, unless Article 9(2)(a) or (g) of the GDPR applies and appropriate measures have been taken to protect the rights and freedoms and your legitimate interests. With regard to the cases mentioned in (1) and (3), the controller shall take reasonable steps to safeguard the rights and freedoms as well as your legitimate interests, which include at least the right to obtain the intervention of a person on the part of the controller, to express his or her point of view and to contest the decision.

10. right to complain to a supervisory authority

Without prejudice to any other administrative or judicial remedy, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of your residence, place of work or the place of the alleged infringement, if you consider that the processing of personal data relating to you infringes the GDPR. The supervisory authority to which the complaint has been lodged shall inform the complainant of the status and outcome of the complaint, including the possibility of a judicial remedy under Article 78 GDPR.

Status of this privacy policy: May 19th, 2022

en_GBEnglish