Register

Privacy Policy

{:en}

Privacy Policy

As of: March 20, 2026

Person responsible

University Bible Friendship Cologne eV
Berrenrather Straße 228
50939 Cologne, Germany

Authorized representatives: Eberhard Groß and Church council
Email address: info@koelnubf.org
Phone: +49 221 9418386
Imprint: https://faithtolove.org/imprint/

Overview of processing

The following overview summarizes the types of data processed and the purposes of their processing and refers to the data subjects.

Types of data processed

  • Contact details.
  • Content data.
  • Usage data.
  • Meta, communication and procedural data.
  • Log data.
  • Member data.

Categories of data subjects

  • Communication partner.
  • members.
  • Users.

Purposes of processing

  • Communication.
  • Security measures.
  • Organizational and administrative procedures.
  • Feedback.
  • Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.
  • Information technology infrastructure.

Relevant legal bases

Relevant legal bases under the GDPR: Below you will find an overview of the legal bases under the GDPR on which we process personal data. Please note that in addition to the provisions of the GDPR, national data protection regulations may apply in your or our country of residence or domicile. Should more specific legal bases apply in individual cases, we will inform you of these in the privacy policy.

  • Consent (Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR) – The data subject has given his or her consent to the processing of personal data concerning him or her for a specific purpose or several specific purposes.
  • Contractual performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Article 6 (1) (b) GDPR) – Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is a party or for the implementation of pre-contractual measures taken at the request of the data subject.
  • Legitimate interests (Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR) – processing is necessary to protect the legitimate interests of the controller or a third party, provided that the interests, fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject which require protection of personal data do not override them.
  • Membership contract (articles of association) (Article 6 (1) (b) GDPR).

National data protection regulations in Germany: In addition to the data protection regulations of the GDPR, national data protection regulations apply in Germany. This includes, in particular, the Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG). The BDSG contains, in particular, special provisions on the right to information, the right to erasure, the right of objection, the processing of special categories of personal data, processing for other purposes, and transmission, as well as automated decision-making in individual cases, including profiling. Furthermore, state data protection laws of individual federal states may apply.

Note on the applicability of the GDPR and the Swiss DSG: This privacy policy serves to provide information in accordance with both the Swiss DSG and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). For this reason, we ask you to note that the terms of the GDPR are used due to their broader geographical application and comprehensibility. In particular, instead of the terms “processing” of “personal data”, “overriding interest”, and “particularly sensitive personal data” used in the Swiss DSG, the terms “processing” of “personal data”, “legitimate interest”, and “special categories of data” used in the GDPR are used. However, the legal meaning of the terms will continue to be determined according to the Swiss DSG within the scope of the Swiss DSG.

Security measures

In accordance with the legal requirements, taking into account the state of the art, the implementation costs and the nature, scope, circumstances and purposes of the processing as well as the different probabilities of occurrence and the extent of the threat to the rights and freedoms of natural persons, we take appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure a level of protection appropriate to the risk.

These measures include, in particular, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data by controlling physical and electronic access to the data, as well as the access, input, and transfer of data, ensuring its availability, and segregation. Furthermore, we have established procedures that ensure the exercise of data subjects’ rights, the deletion of data, and responses to data threats. Furthermore, we consider the protection of personal data right from the development and selection of hardware, software, and processes in accordance with the principle of data protection, through technology design, and through data protection-friendly default settings.

Securing online connections with TLS/SSL encryption technology (HTTPS): To protect user data transmitted via our online services from unauthorized access, we use TLS/SSL encryption technology. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) are the cornerstones of secure data transmission on the internet. These technologies encrypt the information transmitted between the website or app and the user’s browser (or between two servers), thereby protecting the data from unauthorized access. TLS, as the more advanced and secure version of SSL, ensures that all data transmissions meet the highest security standards. If a website is secured by an SSL/TLS certificate, this is signaled by the display of HTTPS in the URL. This serves as an indicator to users that their data is being transmitted securely and encrypted.

General information on data storage and deletion

We delete personal data that we process in accordance with legal requirements as soon as the underlying consent is revoked or there are no further legal grounds for processing. This applies to cases where the original processing purpose no longer applies or the data is no longer needed. Exceptions to this rule exist if legal obligations or special interests require longer retention or archiving of the data.

In particular, data that must be retained for commercial or tax law reasons or whose storage is necessary for legal proceedings or to protect the rights of other natural or legal persons must be archived accordingly.

Our privacy policy contains additional information on the retention and deletion of data that applies specifically to certain processing operations.

If there are multiple details regarding the retention period or deletion period for a given date, the longest period always applies.

If a period does not explicitly begin on a specific date and is at least one year, it automatically begins at the end of the calendar year in which the event triggering the period occurred. In the case of ongoing contractual relationships in which data is stored, the event triggering the period is the effective date of the termination or other termination of the legal relationship.

We process data that is no longer stored for the originally intended purpose but due to legal requirements or other reasons only for the reasons that justify its storage.

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

  • Retention and deletion of data: The following general periods apply to retention and archiving under German law:
    • 3 years – Data required to consider potential warranty and compensation claims or similar contractual claims and rights, as well as to process related inquiries, based on previous business experience and standard industry practices, will be stored for the duration of the regular statutory limitation period of three years (§§ 195, 199 BGB).

Rights of data subjects

Rights of data subjects under the GDPR: As a data subject, you are entitled to various rights under the GDPR, which arise in particular from Articles 15 to 21 GDPR:

  • Right of objection: You have the right to object at any time to the processing of personal data concerning you based on Art. 6 (1) (e) or (f) GDPR, for reasons related to your particular situation; this also applies to profiling based on these provisions. If the personal data concerning you 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 purposes of such advertising; this also applies to profiling insofar as it is related to such direct marketing.
  • Right to withdraw consent: You have the right to withdraw consent at any time.
  • Right to information: You have the right to request confirmation as to whether the data in question is being processed and to request information about this data as well as further information and a copy of the data in accordance with the legal requirements.
  • Right to rectification: You have the right, in accordance with the statutory provisions, to request that the data concerning you be completed or that inaccurate data concerning you be corrected.
  • Right to erasure and restriction of processing: You have the right, in accordance with the statutory provisions, to demand that data concerning you be erased immediately or, alternatively, to demand that the processing of the data be restricted in accordance with the statutory provisions.
  • Right to data portability: You have the right to receive the data concerning you that you have provided to us in a structured, common and machine-readable format in accordance with the legal requirements or to request that it be transmitted to another controller.
  • Complaint 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 habitual residence, place of work or place of the alleged infringement, if you consider that the processing of personal data concerning you violates the provisions of the GDPR.

Performance of tasks according to the statutes or rules of procedure

We process the data of our members, supporters, interested parties, business partners, or other persons (collectively, “data subjects”) if we have a membership or other business relationship with them and if they perform our duties and are recipients of services and donations. Otherwise, we process the data of data subjects based on our legitimate interests, e.g., if it concerns administrative tasks or public relations work.

The data processed here, the type, scope and purpose and the necessity of their processing are determined by the underlying membership or contractual relationship, from which the necessity of any data disclosure arises (otherwise we refer to required data).

We delete data that is no longer required to fulfill our statutory and business purposes. This is determined according to the respective tasks and contractual relationships. We retain the data for as long as it may be relevant for business transactions, as well as with regard to any warranty or liability obligations based on our legitimate interest in their resolution. The necessity of retaining the data is regularly reviewed; otherwise, the statutory retention periods apply.

  • Types of data processed: Member data (e.g., personal data such as name, age, gender, contact details (email address, telephone number), membership number, information about membership fees, event participation, etc.); payment data (e.g., bank details, invoices, payment history); content data (e.g., textual or visual messages and posts, as well as related information, such as authorship or time of creation).
  • Affected persons: members.
  • Purposes of processing: Communication. Organizational and administrative procedures.
  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”.
  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR). Membership contract (articles of association) (Article 6 (1) (b) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

  • Member management: Procedures required within the scope of member management include the acquisition and admission of new members, the development and implementation of member retention strategies, and ensuring effective communication with members. These processes include the careful collection and maintenance of member data, the regular updating of member information, and the administration of membership fees, including invoicing and billing. Legal bases: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR), membership contract (articles of association) (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR).

Provision of the online service and web hosting

We process user data to provide them with our online services. For this purpose, we process the user’s IP address, which is necessary to transmit the content and functions of our online services to the user’s browser or device.

  • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g., page views and length of stay, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); meta, communication, and process data (e.g., IP addresses, time information, identification numbers, persons involved); protocol data (e.g., log files relating to logins or data retrieval or access times); content data (e.g., textual or visual messages and contributions, as well as related information, such as authorship or time of creation).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of our online services and user-friendliness; information technology infrastructure (operation and provision of information systems and technical devices (computers, servers, etc.)); security measures; provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations.
  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”.
  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

  • Provision of online services on rented storage space: To provide our online services, we use storage space, computing capacity, and software that we rent from a corresponding server provider (also called a “web host”) or obtain from other sources; legal basis: legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).
  • Collection of access data and log files: Access to our online offering is logged in the form of so-called “server log files.” Server log files may include the address and name of the accessed web pages and files, the date and time of access, the amount of data transferred, notification of successful access, browser type and version, the user’s operating system, referrer URL (the previously visited page), and, as a rule, IP addresses and the requesting provider. Server log files may be used for security purposes, e.g., to prevent server overload (particularly in the case of abusive attacks, so-called DDoS attacks), and to ensure server utilization and stability; legal basis: legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR). Deletion of data: Log file information is stored for a maximum of 30 days and then deleted or anonymized. Data that needs to be retained for evidentiary purposes will not be deleted until the incident in question has been finally resolved.
  • Email sending and hosting: The web hosting services we use also include the sending, receiving, and storing of emails. For these purposes, the addresses of the recipients and senders, as well as other information regarding the email sending (e.g., the providers involved), and the content of the respective emails are processed. The aforementioned data may also be processed for the purposes of detecting SPAM. Please note that emails are generally not sent encrypted over the Internet. Emails are generally encrypted during transport, but (unless a so-called end-to-end encryption method is used) not on the servers from which they are sent and received. We therefore cannot accept any responsibility for the transmission path of emails between the sender and the recipient on our server; legal basis: legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).
  • STRATO: Services in the field of providing information technology infrastructure and related services (e.g., storage space and/or computing capacity); Service provider: STRATO GmbH, Otto-Ostrowski-Straße 7, 10249 Berlin, Germany; Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR); Website: https://www.strato.de ; Privacy Policy: https://www.strato.de/datenschutz/

Use of cookies

The term “cookies” refers to functions that store information on users’ end devices and read it from them. Cookies can also be used for a variety of purposes, such as ensuring the functionality, security, and convenience of online services, as well as creating analyses of visitor flows. We use cookies in accordance with legal regulations. Where necessary, we obtain users’ consent in advance. If consent is not required, we rely on our legitimate interests. This applies when storing and reading information is essential to providing expressly requested content and functions. This includes saving settings and ensuring the functionality and security of our online service. Consent can be revoked at any time. We provide clear information about the scope of cookies and which cookies are used.

Notes on data protection law: Whether we process personal data using cookies depends on consent. If consent is given, it serves as the legal basis. Without consent, we rely on our legitimate interests, which are explained above in this section and in the context of the respective services and processes.

Storage period:  With regard to the storage period, the following types of cookies are distinguished:

  • Temporary cookies (also: session cookies): Temporary cookies are deleted at the latest after a user has left an online offering and closed their device (e.g. browser or mobile application).
  • Persistent cookies: Persistent cookies remain stored even after the device is closed. For example, the login status can be saved and preferred content can be displayed directly when the user visits a website again. Likewise, the user data collected using cookies can be used for reach measurement. Unless we explicitly provide users with information about the type and storage duration of cookies (e.g., when obtaining consent), they should assume that they are permanent and that the storage period can be up to two years.

General information on revocation and objection (opt-out):  Users can revoke the consent they have given at any time and also object to processing in accordance with the legal requirements, including by using the privacy settings of their browser.

  • Types of data processed: Meta, communication and procedural data (e.g. IP addresses, time information, identification numbers, persons involved).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR). Consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

  • Processing of cookie data based on consent: We use a consent management solution that obtains users’ consent to the use of cookies or to the procedures and providers named within the consent management solution. This procedure is used to obtain, log, manage, and revoke consent, in particular with regard to the use of cookies and similar technologies used to store, read, and process information on users’ end devices. As part of this procedure, users’ consent is obtained for the use of cookies and the associated processing of information, including the specific processing operations and providers named in the consent management procedure. Users also have the option of managing and revoking their consent. Consent declarations are saved to avoid repeated queries and to be able to provide evidence of consent in accordance with legal requirements. The data is stored on the server and/or in a cookie (so-called opt-in cookie) or using similar technologies in order to be able to assign consent to a specific user or their device. Unless specific information is available about the providers of consent management services, the following general information applies: Consent is stored for up to two years. A pseudonymous user identifier is created, which is stored together with the time of consent, information on the scope of consent (e.g., relevant categories of cookies and/or service providers), and information about the browser, system, and device used. Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR).

Registration, login and user account

Users can create a user account. During registration, users are provided with the required mandatory information and processed for the purpose of providing the user account based on contractual obligations. The processed data includes, in particular, login information (username, password, and an email address).

When you use our registration and login functions, as well as your user account, we store your IP address and the time of each user action. This storage is based on our legitimate interests and those of the users in protecting against misuse and other unauthorized use. This data will generally not be passed on to third parties unless it is necessary to pursue our claims or there is a legal obligation to do so.

Users may be informed by email about events relevant to their user account, such as technical changes.

  • Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g., full name, home address, contact information, customer number, etc.); contact data (e.g., postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); content data (e.g., textual or visual messages and contributions as well as related information, such as authorship or time of creation); usage data (e.g., page views and length of stay, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); log data (e.g., log files relating to logins or data retrieval or access times).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations; security measures; organizational and administrative procedures; provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.
  • Retention and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the “General Information on Data Storage and Deletion” section. Deletion after termination.
  • Legal basis: Contractual performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

  • Registration with real name: Due to the nature of our community, we ask users to use our services only using their real names. This means that the use of pseudonyms is not permitted. Legal basis: Contractual fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR).
  • User profiles are not public: User profiles are not publicly visible or accessible.
  • Setting the visibility of profiles: Users can use settings to determine the extent to which their profiles are visible or accessible to the public or only to certain groups of people. Legal basis: Contractual fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR).
  • Deletion of data after termination: If users have terminated their user account, their data relating to the user account will be deleted, subject to legal permission, obligation, or consent of the user; legal basis: contract fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR).
  • No obligation to retain data: It is the responsibility of the user to back up their data upon termination before the end of the contract. We are entitled to irretrievably delete all user data stored during the term of the contract. Legal basis: Contractual fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR).

Community features

The community features we provide allow users to engage in conversations or other interactions with one another. Please note that the use of these community features is only permitted in compliance with applicable law, our terms and policies, and the rights of other users and third parties.

  • Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g., full name, home address, contact information, customer number, etc.). Usage data (e.g., page views and length of stay, click paths, usage intensity and frequency, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of contractual services and fulfillment of contractual obligations; security measures; provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.
  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”.
  • Legal basis: Contractual performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

  • Storage of data for security purposes: Users’ contributions and other inputs are processed for the purposes of community and conversation functions and, subject to legal obligations or legal permission, are not disclosed to third parties. An obligation to disclose data may arise, in particular, in the case of illegal contributions for the purposes of legal prosecution. We would like to point out that in addition to the content of the contributions, the time of their creation and the user’s IP address are also stored. This is done in order to be able to take appropriate measures to protect other users and the community; legal basis: contractual fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR).
  • Limited deletion of conversation contributions: Out of consideration for other users, user conversation contributions remain stored even after termination and account deletion, so that conversations, comments, advice, or similar communication between and among users do not lose their meaning or become inverted. Usernames are deleted or pseudonymized, unless they already constitute pseudonyms. Users can request the complete deletion of conversation contributions from us at any time. Legal basis: Contractual fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR).
  • Protection of personal data: Users decide for themselves which data they disclose about themselves within our online offering. For example, when users provide personal information or participate in conversations. We ask users to protect their data and to publish personal data only with caution and to the extent necessary. In particular, we ask users to note that they must protect their access data with particular care and use secure passwords (i.e., especially long and random character combinations). Legal basis: Contractual fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR).

Contact and inquiry management

When you contact us (e.g. by post, contact form, email, telephone or via social media) as well as within the framework of existing user and business relationships, the information provided by the person making the inquiry will be processed to the extent necessary to answer the contact inquiries and any requested measures.

  • Types of data processed: Inventory data (e.g., full name, home address, contact information, customer number, etc.); contact data (e.g., postal and email addresses or telephone numbers); content data (e.g., textual or visual messages and contributions as well as related information, such as authorship or time of creation); usage data (e.g., page views and length of stay, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions); meta, communication, and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, time information, identification numbers, persons involved).
  • Data subjects: communication partners.
  • Purposes of processing: Communication; organizational and administrative procedures; feedback (e.g., collecting feedback via online form). Provision of our online offering and user-friendliness.
  • Storage and deletion: Deletion in accordance with the information in the section “General information on data storage and deletion”.
  • Legal basis: Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR). Contractual performance and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

  • Contact form: When you contact us via our contact form, by email, or other communication channels, we process the personal data you provide to answer and process your request. This generally includes information such as your name, contact information, and, if applicable, other information that is provided to us and is necessary for appropriate processing. We use this data exclusively for the stated purpose of contacting and communicating. Legal bases: Contractual fulfillment and pre-contractual inquiries (Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR), legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

Chatbots and chat functions

With the consent of the users, we can send them so-called “push notifications.” These are messages that are displayed on the users’ screens, devices, or browsers, even when our online service is not actively being used.

To subscribe to push notifications, users must confirm their browser or device’s request to receive push notifications. This consent process is documented and stored. This data storage is necessary to determine whether users have consented to receive push notifications and to verify consent. For these purposes, a pseudonymous browser identifier (so-called “push token”) or the device ID of a device is stored.

Push notifications may be necessary for the fulfillment of contractual obligations (e.g., technical and organizational information relevant to the use of our online services) and to notify you of new messages on the homepage. Please read more about chat here .

Plug-ins and embedded functions and content

We integrate functional and content elements into our online offering that are obtained from the servers of their respective providers (hereinafter referred to as “third-party providers”). These may include, for example, graphics, videos, or city maps (hereinafter collectively referred to as “content”).

Integration always requires that the third-party providers of this content process the user’s IP address, since without an IP address they would not be able to send the content to their browser. The IP address is therefore required to display this content or functions. We endeavor to only use content whose respective providers only use the IP address to deliver the content. Third-party providers may also use so-called pixel tags (invisible graphics, also known as “web beacons”) for statistical or marketing purposes. The “pixel tags” can be used to evaluate information such as visitor traffic on the pages of this website. The pseudonymous information may also be stored in cookies on the user’s device and may contain, among other things, technical information about the browser and operating system, referring websites, the time of visit and other information about the use of our online offering, but may also be linked to such information from other sources.

Notes on legal bases: If we ask users for their consent to the use of third-party providers, the legal basis for data processing is permission. Otherwise, user data is processed based on our legitimate interests (i.e., interest in efficient, economical, and user-friendly services). In this context, we would also like to draw your attention to the information on the use of cookies in this privacy policy.

  • Types of data processed: Usage data (e.g., page views and length of stay, click paths, intensity and frequency of use, device types and operating systems used, interactions with content and functions). Meta, communication, and procedural data (e.g., IP addresses, time information, identification numbers, persons involved).
  • Data subjects: Users (e.g. website visitors, users of online services).
  • Purposes of processing: Provision of our online services and user-friendliness.
  • Retention and Deletion: Deletion as described in the “General Information on Data Retention and Deletion” section. Cookies are retained for up to two years (unless otherwise stated, cookies and similar storage methods may be stored on users’ devices for a period of two years).
  • Legal basis: Consent (Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR). Legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

Further information on processing procedures, methods and services:

  • Integration of third-party software, scripts or frameworks (e.g. jQuery): We integrate software into our online offering that we retrieve from servers of other providers (e.g. function libraries that we use to display or user-friendliness our online offering). In doing so, the respective providers collect the IP address of the users and can process this for the purposes of transmitting the software to the user’s browser as well as for security purposes and to evaluate and optimize their offering. – We integrate software into our online offering that we retrieve from servers of other providers (e.g. function libraries that we use to display or user-friendliness our online offering). In doing so, the respective providers collect the IP address of the users and can process this for the purposes of transmitting the software to the user’s browser as well as for security purposes and to evaluate and optimize their offering; legal basis: legitimate interests (Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR).

Change and update

We ask you to inform yourself regularly about the content of our privacy policy. We will adapt the privacy policy as soon as changes to the data processing we carry out make this necessary. We will inform you as soon as the changes require your cooperation (e.g., consent) or other individual notification.

If we provide addresses and contact information of companies and organizations in this privacy policy, please note that the addresses may change over time and ask you to check the information before contacting us.

Created with free Datenschutz-Generator.de by Dr. Thomas Schwenke