Privacy Policies

General information

Interconnected SCS offering

The SCS ecosystem comprises several interconnected specialist services and software components that are provided as a unified offering. Certain personal or personally identifiable data is required for use or arises in the course of use:

  • We process account and identification data for authentication, access control, and communication within the user relationship (e.g. login name, email address, institutional affiliation).
  • We process session data for authentication and secure operation (e.g. login and session tokens, access times).
  • We process work content—including personal data where you submit such data to the working environment—to provide the selected functions and for storage and collaborative editing (e.g. entries, uploaded files, subject-specific data, documents, modelling, and work-in-progress).
  • We process technical usage data to ensure operational security, protect against misuse, and maintain service stability (e.g. time of access, functions used, connection data).

Data flows within the offering

The components of the SCS are technically interconnected. Data is exchanged within the provided environment between the services used, insofar as this is necessary for the respective functional process—for example for authentication, content storage, collaborative editing, or subject-specific queries. Processing generally takes place within systems operated or commissioned by us.

Disclosure to third-party providers

Data is transmitted to external third-party providers only insofar as this is technically necessary for a specifically used function—in particular where external services are integrated for map display, authority data linking, or comparable specialist functions. In these cases, transmission is limited to the scope functionally necessary for the respective query or display. Without such functional integration, no transmission to external third parties takes place.

Legal bases

Processing is carried out on the following legal bases:

  • Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR, insofar as processing is necessary for the performance of the user relationship or a comparable institutional provision.
  • Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR, insofar as processing is necessary to safeguard legitimate interests, in particular to ensure IT security and proper operation.

Integration of external services

This website uses the following external services, in which personal data (in particular your IP address) may be processed:

draw.io (integrated in Nextcloud)
For diagrams and visualisations we use draw.io or diagrams.net within Nextcloud. When the function is accessed, technical connection data may be processed. Privacy information: https://www.drawio.com/trust/

GeoNames (integrated in WissKI)
For geographic names and coordinates we use the GeoNames service (GeoNames, Rue de la Pontaise 54, 1014 Lausanne, Switzerland). When requests are made, your IP address is transmitted to GeoNames servers. The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR.

GND (Gemeinsame Normdatei / Integrated Authority File) / German National Library (integrated in WissKI)
For linking authority data we use the GND of the German National Library (DNB), Adickesallee 1, 60322 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. When authority data is retrieved, your IP address may be transmitted. Privacy policy: https://www.dnb.de/datenschutz 

JupyterHub
For browser-based interactive working environments we use JupyterHub. When the services are accessed, technical connection data, in particular your IP address, may be processed. The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. Privacy information: https://jupyter.org/privacy 

Leaflet / OpenStreetMap (integrated in WissKI)
For interactive maps we use Leaflet with map data from OpenStreetMap (OpenStreetMap Foundation, St John's Innovation Centre, Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WS, United Kingdom). When the maps are loaded, your IP address is transmitted to servers of the OpenStreetMap Foundation. The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR (legitimate interest in the functional display of geographic data). Privacy policy: https://wiki.osmfoundation.org/wiki/Privacy_Policy 

MariaDB / phpMyAdmin
For managing relational databases we use MariaDB and the administration interface phpMyAdmin. When these services are accessed, technical connection data may be processed. Privacy information: https://mariadb.org/privacy-policy/ 

Nextcloud
For file management and collaborative work we use Nextcloud. When the services are accessed, personal data, in particular technical connection data and IP addresses, may be processed. Privacy information: https://nextcloud.com/privacy/ 

OnlyOffice (integrated in Nextcloud)
For editing Office documents within Nextcloud we use OnlyOffice. When the services are accessed, technical connection data may be processed. Privacy information: https://www.onlyoffice.com/privacy.aspx 

OpenGDB Triplestore
For storing and processing semantic data we use the OpenGDB triplestore. When the services are accessed, technical connection data may be processed.

WebProtégé
For collaborative editing and management of ontologies we use WebProtégé (Stanford Center for Biomedical Informatics Research, Stanford University, USA). When accessed, personal data, in particular your IP address, may be processed. Privacy information: https://webprotege.stanford.edu/html/privacy.html

WissKI
For research data management and semantic data modelling we use WissKI. When the services are accessed, technical connection data may be processed. Privacy information: https://wiss-ki.eu/privacy-policy

Privacy policy of the SCS

1. Data protection at a glance

General information

The following information provides a simple overview of what happens to your personal data when you visit this website. Personal data is any data with which you can be personally identified. Detailed information on data protection can be found in our privacy policy set out below this text.

Data collection on this website

Who is responsible for data collection on this website?

Data processing on this website is carried out by the website operator. You can find their contact details in the section “Note on the controller” in this privacy policy.

How do we collect your data?

On the one hand, your data is collected when you provide it to us. This may, for example, be data that you enter in a contact form.

Other data is collected automatically or after your consent when you visit the website by our IT systems. This is mainly technical data (e.g. internet browser, operating system, or time of page access). This data is collected automatically as soon as you enter this website.

What do we use your data for?

Some of the data is collected to ensure error-free provision of the website. Other data may be used to analyse your user behaviour. Where contracts can be concluded or initiated via the website, the data transmitted is also processed for contract offers, orders, or other enquiries.

What rights do you have regarding your data?

You have the right at any time to obtain free information about the origin, recipients, and purpose of your stored personal data. You also have the right to request the rectification or erasure of this data. If you have given consent to data processing, you may revoke this consent at any time for the future. You also have the right, under certain circumstances, to request restriction of the processing of your personal data. Furthermore, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority.

You can contact us at any time about this and other questions on the subject of data protection.

2. Hosting

We host the content of our website with the following provider:

Hetzner

The provider is Hetzner Online GmbH, Industriestr. 25, 91710 Gunzenhausen (hereinafter Hetzner).

Details can be found in Hetzner’s privacy policy: https://www.hetzner.com/de/legal/privacy-policy/.

The use of Hetzner is based on Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. We have a legitimate interest in the most reliable presentation possible of our website. Where corresponding consent has been requested, processing takes place exclusively on the basis of Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TTDSG, insofar as the consent covers the storage of cookies or access to information on the user’s end device (e.g. device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. Consent may be revoked at any time.

Data processing agreement

We have concluded a data processing agreement (DPA) for the use of the above-mentioned service. This is a contract required under data protection law, which ensures that the provider processes the personal data of our website visitors only in accordance with our instructions and in compliance with the GDPR.

3. General information and mandatory information

Data protection

The operators of these pages take the protection of your personal data very seriously. We treat your personal data confidentially and in accordance with statutory data protection provisions and this privacy policy.

When you use this website, various personal data is collected. Personal data is data with which you can be personally identified. This privacy policy explains what data we collect and what we use it for. It also explains how and for what purpose this is done.

We point out that data transmission on the internet (e.g. when communicating by email) may have security gaps. Complete protection of data against access by third parties is not possible.

Note on the controller

The controller responsible for data processing on this website is:

Interest Group for Semantic Data Processing e.V.
Irisstr. 23a
80935 Munich

Email: vorstand@igsd-ev.de

The controller is the natural or legal person who alone or jointly with others decides on the purposes and means of processing personal data (e.g. names, email addresses, or similar).

The data protection officer for data processing on this website is:

Robert Nasarek
Kornmarkt 1
90402 Nuremberg

Email: r.nasarek@gnm.de

Storage period

Unless a more specific storage period is stated in this privacy policy, your personal data remains with us until the purpose for data processing no longer applies. If you assert a legitimate request for erasure or revoke consent to data processing, your data will be deleted unless we have other legally permissible grounds for storing your personal data (e.g. tax or commercial law retention periods); in the latter case, erasure takes place after these grounds cease to apply.

General information on the legal bases for data processing on this website

If you have consented to data processing, we process your personal data on the basis of Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR or Art. 9(2)(a) GDPR, where special categories of data pursuant to Art. 9(1) GDPR are processed. In the case of explicit consent to the transfer of personal data to third countries, data processing also takes place on the basis of Art. 49(1)(a) GDPR. If you have consented to the storage of cookies or to access to information on your end device (e.g. via device fingerprinting), data processing additionally takes place on the basis of § 25(1) TTDSG. Consent may be revoked at any time. If your data is required for contract performance or for carrying out pre-contractual measures, we process your data on the basis of Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR. Furthermore, we process your data where this is necessary to fulfil a legal obligation on the basis of Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR. Data processing may also take place on the basis of our legitimate interest pursuant to Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. The respective legal bases applicable in individual cases are set out in the following sections of this privacy policy.

Recipients of personal data

In the course of our business activities we work with various external parties. This may also require the transmission of personal data to these external parties. We disclose personal data to external parties only where this is necessary for contract performance, where we are legally obliged to do so (e.g. disclosure of data to tax authorities), where we have a legitimate interest in disclosure pursuant to Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR, or where another legal basis permits data disclosure. When using processors, we disclose our customers’ personal data only on the basis of a valid data processing agreement. In the case of joint processing, a joint processing agreement is concluded.

Revocation of your consent to data processing

Many data processing operations are possible only with your express consent. You may revoke consent you have already given at any time. The lawfulness of data processing carried out until revocation remains unaffected by the revocation.

Right to object to data collection in special cases and to direct marketing (Art. 21 GDPR)

WHERE DATA PROCESSING IS CARRIED OUT ON THE BASIS OF ART. 6(1)(E) OR (F) GDPR, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT AT ANY TIME TO OBJECT TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA FOR REASONS ARISING FROM YOUR PARTICULAR SITUATION; THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PROFILING BASED ON THESE PROVISIONS. THE RESPECTIVE LEGAL BASIS ON WHICH PROCESSING IS BASED CAN BE FOUND IN THIS PRIVACY POLICY. IF YOU OBJECT, WE WILL NO LONGER PROCESS YOUR AFFECTED PERSONAL DATA UNLESS WE CAN DEMONSTRATE COMPELLING LEGITIMATE GROUNDS FOR THE PROCESSING WHICH OVERRIDE YOUR INTERESTS, RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS, OR THE PROCESSING SERVES THE ASSERTION, EXERCISE OR DEFENCE OF LEGAL CLAIMS (OBJECTION PURSUANT TO ART. 21(1) GDPR).

WHERE YOUR PERSONAL DATA IS PROCESSED FOR DIRECT MARKETING PURPOSES, 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, YOUR PERSONAL DATA WILL SUBSEQUENTLY NO LONGER BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE OF DIRECT MARKETING (OBJECTION PURSUANT TO ART. 21(2) GDPR).

Right to lodge a complaint with the competent supervisory authority

In the event of breaches of the GDPR, data subjects have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, in particular in the Member State of their habitual residence, place of work, or place of the alleged breach. The right to lodge a complaint exists without prejudice to other administrative or judicial remedies.

Right to data portability

You have the right to receive data that we process automatically on the basis of your consent or in fulfilment of a contract, in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format, or to have it transmitted to another controller. If you request direct transmission of the data to another controller, this is done only where technically feasible.

Information, rectification, and erasure

Within the framework of applicable statutory provisions, you have the right at any time to free information about your stored personal data, its origin and recipients, and the purpose of data processing, and where applicable the right to rectification or erasure of this data. You can contact us at any time about this and other questions regarding personal data.

Right to restriction of processing

You have the right to request restriction of the processing of your personal data. You can contact us at any time for this purpose. The right to restriction of processing exists in the following cases:

  • If you contest the accuracy of your personal data stored by us, we usually need time to verify this. For the duration of the verification, you have the right to request restriction of the processing of your personal data.
  • If the processing of your personal data was or is unlawful, you may request restriction of data processing instead of erasure.
  • If we no longer need your personal data but you need it for the assertion, exercise, or defence of legal claims, you have the right to request restriction of the processing of your personal data instead of erasure.
  • If you have lodged an objection pursuant to Art. 21(1) GDPR, a balancing of interests must be carried out between your interests and ours. As long as it has not been determined whose interests prevail, you have the right to request restriction of the processing of your personal data.

If you have restricted the processing of your personal data, this data may—apart from storage—be processed only with your consent or for the assertion, exercise, or defence of legal claims or for the protection of the rights of another natural or legal person or for reasons of important public interest of the European Union or a Member State.

SSL or TLS encryption

For security reasons and to protect the transmission of confidential content, such as orders or enquiries you send to us as the site operator, this site uses SSL or TLS encryption. You can recognise an encrypted connection by the fact that the browser address bar changes from “http://” to “https://” and by the lock symbol in your browser bar.

When SSL or TLS encryption is activated, the data you transmit to us cannot be read by third parties.

4. Data collection on this website

Cookies

Our web pages use so-called “cookies”. Cookies are small data packets and do not cause any damage to your end device. They are stored either temporarily for the duration of a session (session cookies) or permanently (persistent cookies) on your end device. Session cookies are automatically deleted after your visit ends. Persistent cookies remain stored on your end device until you delete them yourself or automatic deletion by your web browser occurs.

Cookies may originate from us (first-party cookies) or from third-party companies (so-called third-party cookies). Third-party cookies enable the integration of certain services from third-party companies within web pages (e.g. cookies for processing payment services).

Cookies have various functions. Many cookies are technically necessary because certain website functions would not work without them (e.g. the shopping cart function or the display of videos). Other cookies may be used to evaluate user behaviour or for advertising purposes.

Cookies that are required for carrying out the electronic communication process, for providing certain functions you have requested (e.g. for the shopping cart function), or for optimising the website (e.g. cookies for measuring web audience) (necessary cookies) are stored on the basis of Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR, unless another legal basis is stated. The website operator has a legitimate interest in storing necessary cookies for the technically error-free and optimised provision of its services. Where consent to the storage of cookies and comparable recognition technologies has been requested, processing takes place exclusively on the basis of this consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TTDSG); consent may be revoked at any time.

You can configure your browser so that you are informed about the setting of cookies and allow cookies only in individual cases, exclude acceptance of cookies for certain cases or in general, and activate automatic deletion of cookies when closing the browser. If cookies are deactivated, the functionality of this website may be limited.

If further cookies and services are used on this website, you can find this information in this privacy policy.

Server log files

The provider of the pages automatically collects and stores information in so-called server log files that your browser automatically transmits to us. These are:

  • Browser type and browser version
  • Operating system used
  • Referrer URL
  • Hostname of the accessing computer
  • Time of the server request
  • IP address

This data is not merged with other data sources.

The collection of this data is based on Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. The website operator has a legitimate interest in the technically error-free presentation and optimisation of its website—for this purpose server log files must be recorded.

Registration on this website

You can register on this website to use additional functions on the site. We use the data entered for this purpose only to use the respective offering or service for which you have registered. The mandatory information requested during registration must be provided in full. Otherwise we will reject the registration.

For important changes, for example to the scope of the offering or technically necessary changes, we use the email address provided during registration to inform you in this way.

The processing of data entered during registration is for the purpose of implementing the user relationship established by registration and, where applicable, initiating further contracts (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR).

The data collected during registration is stored by us for as long as you are registered on this website and is subsequently deleted. Statutory retention periods remain unaffected.

Contact form

If you send us enquiries via the contact form, your details from the enquiry form, including the contact details you provide there, will be stored by us for the purpose of processing the enquiry and in case of follow-up questions. We do not disclose this data without your consent.

The processing of this data is based on Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR, where your enquiry is related to the fulfilment of a contract or is necessary for carrying out pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, processing is based on our legitimate interest in the effective processing of enquiries addressed to us (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR) or on your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR) where this has been requested; consent may be revoked at any time.

The data you enter in the contact form remains with us until you request erasure, revoke your consent to storage, or the purpose for data storage no longer applies (e.g. after your enquiry has been processed). Mandatory statutory provisions—in particular retention periods—remain unaffected.

Enquiry by email, telephone, or fax

If you contact us by email, telephone, or fax, your enquiry including all resulting personal data (name, enquiry) will be stored and processed by us for the purpose of handling your request. We do not disclose this data without your consent.

The processing of this data is based on Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR, where your enquiry is related to the fulfilment of a contract or is necessary for carrying out pre-contractual measures. In all other cases, processing is based on our legitimate interest in the effective processing of enquiries addressed to us (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR) or on your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR) where this has been requested; consent may be revoked at any time.

The data you send to us via contact enquiries remains with us until you request erasure, revoke your consent to storage, or the purpose for data storage no longer applies (e.g. after your request has been processed). Mandatory statutory provisions—in particular statutory retention periods—remain unaffected.

5. Plugins and tools

Google Fonts (local hosting)

This site uses so-called Google Fonts provided by Google for uniform display of fonts. The Google Fonts are installed locally. No connection to Google servers takes place in this process.

Further information on Google Fonts can be found at https://developers.google.com/fonts/faq and in Google’s privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de.

OpenStreetMap

We use the map service of OpenStreetMap (OSM).

We integrate map material from OpenStreetMap on the server of the OpenStreetMap Foundation, St John’s Innovation Centre, Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WS, United Kingdom. The United Kingdom is regarded as a third country with an adequate level of data protection. This means that the United Kingdom has a level of data protection equivalent to that in the European Union. When OpenStreetMap maps are used, a connection to the servers of the OpenStreetMap Foundation is established. In the process, your IP address and other information about your behaviour on this website may be forwarded to the OSMF. OpenStreetMap may store cookies in your browser or use comparable recognition technologies for this purpose.

The use of OpenStreetMap is in the interest of an appealing presentation of our online offerings and easy findability of the locations indicated on the website. This constitutes a legitimate interest within the meaning of Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR. Where corresponding consent has been requested, processing takes place exclusively on the basis of Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR and § 25(1) TTDSG, insofar as the consent covers the storage of cookies or access to information on the user’s end device (e.g. device fingerprinting) within the meaning of the TTDSG. Consent may be revoked at any time.

Source: Created with the privacy policy generator at https://www.e-recht24.de

Rights of the data subject

You have the right:

  • pursuant to Art. 15 GDPR to request information about your personal data processed by us. In particular, you may request information about the processing purposes, the category of personal data, the categories of recipients to whom your data has been or will be disclosed, the planned storage period, the existence of a right to rectification, erasure, restriction of processing or objection, the existence of a right to lodge a complaint, and the origin of your data where it was not collected by us
  • pursuant to Art. 16 GDPR to request without undue delay the rectification of inaccurate or completion of your personal data stored by us; pursuant to Art. 17 GDPR to request erasure of your personal data stored by us, insofar as processing is not necessary for exercising the right to freedom of expression and information, for fulfilling a legal obligation, for reasons of public interest, or for the assertion, exercise, or defence of legal claims
  • pursuant to Art. 18 GDPR to request restriction of the processing of your personal data, insofar as you contest the accuracy of the data, the processing is unlawful but you oppose erasure and we no longer need the data but you require it for the assertion, exercise, or defence of legal claims, or you have lodged an objection to 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 request transmission to another controller
  • pursuant to Art. 7(3) GDPR to revoke your consent given to us at any time. This has the consequence that we may no longer continue data processing based on this consent for the future. Revocation of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out on the basis of consent until revocation
  • if you believe that we have not complied with data protection provisions in processing your data, you may lodge a complaint with the data protection supervisory authority responsible for us pursuant to Art. 77 in conjunction with Art. 51 GDPR:

    Bavarian State Commissioner for Data Protection
    Wagmüllerstraße 18
    80538 Munich
    Telephone: +49 89 212672-0
    Fax: +49 89 212672-50
    Email: poststelle@datenschutz-bayern.de

 

Version: 1 June 2026