Privacy Policy

The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) places a high priority on the responsible handling of personal data. We want users to know what data the BMWE collects and uses, and when.

As an agency of the Federal Republic of Germany without legal personality, the BMWE operates a website at www.bmwk.de, where it informs the public about its activities and provides easily accessible information.

We process personal data only to the extent necessary. The specific data we collect, the purpose for which it is collected, and the legal basis for processing depend largely on the type of service you use or the specific purpose for which the data is required.

We have implemented technical and organizational measures to ensure that data protection regulations are observed by both us and our external service providers.

The processing of personal data at the BMWE is carried out in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Federal Data Protection Act (Federal Data Protection Act).

The entity responsible for the processing of personal data is

Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
34–37 Scharnhorst Street
10115 Berlin
Mailing address: 11019 Berlin
Email: info@bmwk.bund.de
Internet: www.bmwk.de
Phone: +49 (0)30 18615 0

If you have specific questions about the protection of your data at the BMWE, please contact the BMWE’s Data Protection Officer:

Data Protection Officer at the BMWE
34–37 Scharnhorst Street
10115 Berlin
Email: datenschutzbeauftragte@bmwk.bund.de

Personal data refers to any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. A natural person is considered identifiable if they can be identified, directly or indirectly—in particular by association with an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, or an online identifier.

Individuals under the age of 16 should not provide us with any personal information without the consent of their parents or legal guardians.

If, however, individuals under the age of 16 contact the BMWE via email, contact form, letter, or similar means, sections 3.1, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5 through 3.8 apply. If the data is required for visiting the BMWE, sections 3.4 and 3.10 apply.

In carrying out its public-interest duties, the BMWE processes personal data. The BMWE’s public duties include, in particular, public relations work, which encompasses, among other things, the provision of information to the public through this website. The legal basis for this processing is Article 6(1)(e) of the GDPR in conjunction with the relevant national or European legal provisions governing these tasks, or in conjunction with Section 3 of the Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG). The same applies to applications in connection with which the BMWE processes personal data for the purpose of processing the application (for example, applications for funding or for access to information under the Federal Freedom of Information Act, the Environmental Information Act, or under press law). Insofar as the processing of personal data is necessary in individual cases to fulfill a legal obligation, Article 6(1)(c) of the GDPR, in conjunction with the relevant legal provision from which the legal obligation arises, also serves as the legal basis.

To the extent that we obtain the data subject’s consent for the processing of personal data, Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR serves as the legal basis.

When processing personal data necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is a party, Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR also serves as the legal basis in specific cases. This also applies to processing operations necessary for the implementation of pre-contractual measures. As a party to a civil law contract, the BMWE is active in particular in the area of recruitment and procurement.

In cases where the processing of personal data is necessary to protect the vital interests of the data subject or another natural person, Article 6(1)(d) of the GDPR serves as the legal basis.

To the Business Unit The BMWE includes: Federal Cartel Office, Federal Network Agency, Federal Office of Economics and Export Control, Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing, German National Metrology Institute and Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources. As part of its supervisory role over these agencies, the BMWE may process personal data that has been transmitted to it.

Every time a user accesses our website or retrieves a file, data regarding this action is temporarily stored in a log file. Specifically, the following data is stored for each access or retrieval:

• The date and time of the request (timestamp), as well as the IP address of the accessing device or server,
• Request details and destination address (protocol version, HTTP method, referrer, user agent string),
• Name of the retrieved file and amount of data transferred (requested URL including query string, size in bytes), as well as a
• Indicates whether the request was successful (HTTP status code).

Pursuant to Article 6(1)(e) of the GDPR in conjunction with Section 5 of the BSI Act, we are required to retain this data beyond the time of your visit in order to protect the BMWE’s internet infrastructure and the federal government’s communication systems from attacks. This data is analyzed and is required in the event of attacks on communication technology to initiate legal and criminal proceedings. The data is deleted as soon as it is no longer needed to fulfill our obligations.

Data logged when accessing the BMWE website will only be disclosed to third parties if we are legally required to do so or if such disclosure is necessary for legal or criminal prosecution in the event of attacks on the Federal Government’s communication systems. No data is disclosed in other cases. The BMWE does not combine this data with other data sources.

Session cookies are used on the pages of our brochure ordering service and when displaying banners; these cookies remain active for the duration of your visit to the website. This is necessary for technical reasons to ensure the proper functioning of the shopping cart and the display of banners. This is done on the basis of Art. 6(1)(e) GDPR in conjunction with § 3 BDSG within the scope of public relations activities for the needs-based provision of information regarding the tasks assigned to the BMWE, or, in the case of orders, for the purpose of contract fulfillment based on Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR.

Session cookies are small pieces of data that a website operator stores in the working memory of the visitor’s computer or similar device. A session cookie contains a randomly generated unique identification number, known as a session ID. In addition, such a cookie contains information about its origin and storage duration. These cookies cannot store any other data. With the help of the session ID, the items you have added to your shopping cart can be assigned to your device.

The session cookies used are deleted when you end the session. If you close the browser window or visit another page, your shopping cart will be reset. Any items added to your shopping cart up to that point will need to be added again if you end the session without completing the order process.

You can use any web browser to see when cookies are set and what they contain. Detailed information is available on the websites of the Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information and the Federal Office for Information Security.

There are also persistent cookies that allow us to recognize visitors even after a long period of time. We do not use such cookies on our website.

Most browsers are set by default to accept cookies automatically. However, you can disable the storage of cookies or set your browser so that cookies are stored only for the duration of your current Internet connection.

You can decide at any time whether, in addition to technically necessary cookies, you allow us to collect statistical information using the etracker service. The pseudonymized analyses generated by this software help us improve our websites. You can revoke your consent at any time and stop an ongoing statistical analysis by clicking the toggle switch in the upper right corner of the main window bar. You can reactivate tracking by clicking the toggle switch again.

How does etracker work? A script on our website triggers an HTTP request that automatically forwards your IP address and the so-called user agent to etracker GmbH. Here, your IP address is first automatically truncated. The software then pseudonymizes the transmitted data solely for the purpose of detecting multiple uses during the session. After 7 days, any association with the session is deleted, and your statistical data is completely anonymized. etracker is a German company and processes your data exclusively on our behalf on secure servers. It is not transmitted to any other third parties. The legal basis for this is your consent pursuant to Section 25(1) of the TTDSG in conjunction with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR and Section 3(1) of the EGovG. We have ensured that you can revoke your consent at any time without adverse consequences and wish to give you full control over tracking on our website.

You have the option to prevent your actions on this site from being analyzed and tracked. This will protect your privacy, but it will also prevent the site owner from learning from your actions and improving the user experience for you and other users.

The processing of personal data depends on the method of contact. A distinction can be made between contact via email, contact form, letter, or telephone (hotline).

In addition to employees’ personal work email addresses and various functional mailboxes, you can also contact the BMWE via this central email address: info@bmwk.bund.de. The sender’s IP address is recorded in the process. In addition, the date and time of your request are transmitted to us. The personal data sent to this central address and stored in the organizational unit responsible for central message distribution is forwarded to the relevant organizational units of the BMWE and deleted after one year. For information on contacting the Citizen Dialogue Team and the Visitor Service, please refer to sections 3.3 and 3.4.

Within the organizational units, the data you provide (for example: last name, first name, address), at a minimum your email address, as well as the information contained in the email (including any personal data you may have provided yourself) for the purpose of contacting you and processing your request. This is done in accordance with the retention periods for written documents set forth in the Records Management Policy, which supplements the Joint Rules of Procedure of the Federal Ministries (GGO). Please note that the processing of this data is based on Article 6(1)(e) of the GDPR in conjunction with Section 3 of the Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG). Processing of the data you have provided is necessary for the purpose of handling your inquiry.

IP addresses are used exclusively in connection with government law enforcement and counterterrorism measures, in accordance with the applicable legal requirements.

The BMWE website also provides email addresses of third parties for specialized topics. These addresses do not end with „bmwk.bund.de“ after the @ symbol. If you use one of these addresses to contact a third party, the processing of personal data is not the responsibility of the BMWE. If you have any questions regarding how this third party handles your personal data, please contact them directly.

You can access the BMWE website using the link provided here Forms Contact the BMWE’s Public Dialogue Team. Providing your address is optional and allows us—if you specifically request it—to process your inquiry by mail. The sender’s IP address is recorded. This also occurs when sending a standard email to the address buergerdialog@bmwk.bund.de. In addition, the date and time of your request are transmitted to us.

By checking the box and submitting the contact form, you consent to the transmission and storage of your personal data and IP address in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR. Your personal data is processed and stored for the purpose of responding to your inquiry. The use of the IP address takes place exclusively within the framework of government law enforcement and security measures, in compliance with the legal requirements.

When you use the Citizen Dialogue Team’s contact form, the information entered in the data fields is transmitted exclusively to the BMWE’s Citizen Dialogue Team.

The information submitted via the Citizen Dialogue Team's contact form is transmitted over an encrypted HTTPS connection.

If we receive a message via the Team Bürgerdialog contact form, we assume that we are authorized to respond via email. Otherwise, you must explicitly inform us that you prefer another method of communication.

Processing is handled centrally by the staff of the Citizen Dialogue team. The BMWE’s specialized departments provide support as needed. In the Citizen Dialogue, the data you submit (e.g., last name, first name, address, etc.) as well as the information contained in the email (including any personal data you may have provided) are stored for the purpose of contacting you and processing your request, in accordance with the retention periods applicable to written records under the Records Management Policy, which the Joint Rules of Procedure of the Federal Ministries (GGO) We would like to point out that the processing of your data is based on Article 6(1)(e) of the GDPR in conjunction with Section 3 of the BDSG. The processing of the personal data you have provided is necessary for the purpose of handling your request.

If you have agreed in the contact form that your inquiry may be forwarded to other state and federal authorities—where necessary—for the purpose of responding to your inquiry, such forwarding will be carried out in compliance with data protection regulations.

If you do not consent to the processing of your data, you may cancel the contact process at any time before submitting it. In that case, your data will not be stored. You may withdraw your consent at any time. The lawfulness of the processing based on your consent remains unaffected until we receive your revocation.

The BMWE regularly hosts groups for informational visits. If you are interested in Visitor Services Contact Form To use this contact form for communication, you must provide a salutation, your last name and first name, your email address, phone number, preferred appointment time, and the number of participants. Without this information, we cannot process the request you submit via the contact form. The sender’s IP address is recorded in the process. This also occurs when sending a standard email to the addresses buergerdialog@bmwk.bund.de and besucherservice@bmwk.bund.de. In addition, the date and time of your request are transmitted to us.

By checking the box and submitting the contact form, you consent to the transmission and storage of your personal data and IP address in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR. Your personal data is processed and stored for the purpose of responding to your inquiry. The use of the IP address takes place exclusively within the framework of government law enforcement and security measures, in compliance with the legal requirements.

When you use the visitor service contact form, the information entered in the data fields is transmitted exclusively to the BMWE’s Public Engagement Unit. Furthermore, by submitting your inquiry, you agree that your inquiry may be shared with third parties, in particular the Security Control Center at the BMWE, if and to the extent that this is necessary for processing your request.

The data submitted via the BMWE contact forms is transmitted via an encrypted HTTPS connection.

If we receive a message from you via the visitor services contact form or an email, we will assume that we are authorized to respond via email. Otherwise, you must explicitly inform us that you prefer another method of communication.

The staff of the Visitor Services department will handle the request you submitted via the contact form.

Due to the nature of its responsibilities and functions, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy is generally considered by security authorities to be at high risk of abstract threats. Consequently, there is a correspondingly high need for security measures for all individuals present at the Ministry. In order to grant you access to the BMWE premises, the BMWE must, for security reasons, collect the first and last names as well as the dates of birth of the participants in advance of the appointment. Additional information, such as institution, school type, grade level, club, or mobility restrictions, is used to better prepare for the visit to the BMWE and is optional. The last name, first name, and date of birth of visitors are stored in a computer-based system for business process purposes and verified on-site through ID checks.

The BMWE Visitor Services office stores the data you provide for the purpose of contacting you and processing your inquiry, in accordance with the retention periods applicable to written records under the Records Management Policy, which the Joint Rules of Procedure of the Federal Ministries (GGO) added.
Please note that the processing of your data is based on Article 6(1)(e) of the GDPR in conjunction with Section 3 of the BDSG. The processing of the personal data you have provided is necessary for the purpose of handling your request.

If you do not consent to the processing of your data, you may cancel the contact process at any time before submitting it. In that case, your data will not be stored. You may withdraw your consent at any time. The lawfulness of the processing based on your consent remains unaffected until we receive your revocation.

If you write a letter to the BMWE, the data you provide (such as your last name, first name, and address) and the information contained in the letter (including any personal data you provide)
stored for the purpose of contacting you and processing your request. This is done in accordance with the retention periods applicable to written records under the Records Management Policy, which the Joint Rules of Procedure of the Federal Ministries (GGO) added.

Please note that the processing of your data is based on Article 6(1)(e) of the GDPR in conjunction with Section 3 of the BDSG. The processing of the personal data you have provided is necessary for the purpose of handling your request.

If you send a fax to the BMWE, the data you provide (e.g., last name, first name, address) and the information contained in the fax (including any personal data you have provided) will be stored for the purpose of contacting you and processing your request, in accordance with the retention periods applicable to written documents under the Records Management Policy, which the Joint Rules of Procedure of the Federal Ministries (GGO) added.
Please note that the processing of your data is based on Article 6(1)(e) of the GDPR in conjunction with Section 3 of the BDSG. The processing of the personal data you have provided is necessary for the purpose of handling your request.

When you contact an employee by phone, your personal data will be processed, to the extent necessary, in order to handle your inquiry. Please note that the processing of this data is based on Article 6(1)(e) of the GDPR in conjunction with Section 3 of the BDSG.

If you contact the Citizen Dialogue Team by calling 030-18615-0 or 030-18615-6187, the Citizen Dialogue Team will record your last name, first name (if applicable), phone number, and the date of the call. Your mailing address and email address will only be recorded if they are necessary for further communication and processing of your request.

The data you provide will be stored for the purpose of contacting you and processing your request. This is done in accordance with the retention periods applicable to written records under the Records Management Policy, which the Joint Rules of Procedure of the Federal Ministries (GGO) supplemented. Please note that the processing of data is based on Article 6(1)(e) of the GDPR in conjunction with Section 3 of the BDSG.

If the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy is not responsible for your inquiry, the information may be disclosed to other state and federal authorities in compliance with data protection regulations without your consent, provided that it can be assumed that such disclosure is in the interest of the data subject for the purpose of responding to the inquiry and that no sensitive personal data is involved (Article 6(1)(e) of the GDPR in conjunction with Section 3 of the Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG), Section 25(1) in conjunction with Section 23(1)(1) of the BDSG).

As part of its press and public relations efforts, the BMWE maintains its own accounts on the social media platforms Facebook, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, and Mastodon. To raise awareness of its initiatives, the BMWE also runs campaigns on TikTok.

The data processing associated with social media platforms enables direct and rapid interaction with users. By commenting on and sharing posts, users can participate directly in the public, democratic discourse on the policies of the Federal Government. The BMWE limits the use of its accounts—including to protect personal data—to content related to the BMWE’s press and public relations work. Administrative services or communication beyond the aforementioned purpose of use are not offered, processed, or responded to via these services.

Please do not actively share any personal data via our social media channels—for example, in posts, comments, or retweets—and always use our direct communication channels to get in touch. All interactions with social media accounts (sharing, retweeting, liking, commenting on, or quoting posts) are publicly visible. This applies both to third-party actions regarding posts from BMWE accounts and to actions by BMWE accounts regarding third-party posts.

For more information about social media and how to protect your data, please visit the website of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI).

From our website, you can access the networks mentioned by clicking on icons that contain hyperlinks. Clicking on a hyperlink opens the external destination in a new browser window. No data is transferred to third parties before you click on the link.

We expressly draw your attention to the fact that these services store their users’ data (such as personal information, IP addresses, etc.) in accordance with their own data usage policies and—with the exception of Mastodon—also use it for commercial purposes. The BMWE has no influence over the collection of data or its further use by social networks. Thus, there is no reliable information regarding the extent to which, the location where, and the duration for which the data is stored; the extent to which the respective networks comply with existing deletion obligations; what analyses and linkages are made with the data; and to whom the data is disclosed.

Please note that the vast majority of the platforms mentioned process data globally, and in particular in the United States. This so-called transfer to a third country outside the EU entails risks regarding the potential exercise of your data protection rights. Please do not contact us via social media if you wish to avoid this. You use these services and their features at your own risk. This applies in particular to the public use of interactive features (e.g., commenting, sharing, rating) on U.S. platforms.

In order to carry out its editorial duties on social media, particularly the real-time management of comments and inquiries, the BMWE necessarily processes data from individuals who interact with the Ministry on these platforms. In doing so, publicly available data such as profile and account names, profile pictures, the content of the inquiry, the number of followers and the profiles the account follows, as well as the latest posts, may be visible to BMWE staff.

Please note that the processing of your data is based on Article 6(1)(e) of the GDPR in conjunction with Section 3 of the BDSG. The processing of the personal data you provide is necessary for the purpose of handling your communication.

Below, we would like to provide you with information about the social media platforms we use.

The BMWE operates a Facebook fan page and uses the services of Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd., Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland, for this purpose.

When you visit our fan page, Facebook automatically collects, among other things, your IP address and other information that can be read using cookies. These cookies are stored by Facebook on your device, or they may already be there if you haven’t deleted them previously. Facebook provides information about the use of cookies as part of its Cookie Policy.

The data collected about you in this context is processed by Facebook and may be transferred to countries outside the European Union. Data transfers to the United States are based on the European Commission’s Standard Contractual Clauses; see the ‚META EU-Data Transfer Addendum‘ and the ‚META Standard Clauses‘Meta, the company behind Facebook, is certified under the „EU–US Data Privacy Framework“ (DPF). The DPF is an agreement between the European Union and the United States designed to ensure compliance with European data protection standards when data is processed in the United States. Every company certified under the DPF commits to complying with these data protection standards.

Facebook describes what information it collects and how it is used in its Privacy Policy at this link. There you will also find information on how to contact Facebook and on ad settings.

We would like to point out that Facebook, or Meta, is able to use cookies to track your user behavior (across devices for logged-in users) even beyond this service on other websites. This applies to both users registered with Facebook and those who are not registered there. If you wish to prevent this, please proceed as follows: Log out of Facebook or disable the „Stay Logged In“ feature, delete the cookies stored on your device, close your browser, and restart it. This will delete Facebook information that can be used to directly identify you. This allows you to use the Facebook fan page without your Facebook ID being revealed.

According to Facebook, it stores data until it is no longer needed to provide its services and products, or until the user’s account is deleted. This depends on the circumstances of each individual case, in particular the type of data, the reasons for its collection and processing, and the relevant legal or operational storage requirements. You can also find more detailed information on data storage at: https://de-de.facebook.com/about/privacy

As the operator of the fan page, the BMWE receives only anonymized and aggregated statistical information regarding the use of its Facebook page.

To distribute its video content, the BMWE maintains an account on the „YouTube“ video portal operated by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland.

When you visit our YouTube channel, Google processes your personal data and places cookies on your device. For more information, please visit here. At this address, Google also informs you that the company transfers its data to its parent company, Google Inc., based in the United States, to other Google companies, and to Google’s external partners, all of which may be located outside the European Union. Google is certified under the „EU-US Data Privacy Framework“ (DPF).

If you are signed in to Google at the same time, the information stored there will be linked to your YouTube account. You can prevent this by signing out of your YouTube account before visiting our website. For more information about YouTube’s privacy settings, please visit here.

For the X short message service offered here, the BMWE uses the technical platform and services of Twitter, Twitter International Company, One Cumberland Place, Fenian Street, Dublin 2, D02 AX07, Ireland.

The data collected about you when you use the service is processed by Twitter Inc. and may be transferred to countries outside the European Union. This includes, among other things, your IP address, the application used, details about the device you are using (including device ID and application ID), information about websites visited, your location, and your mobile network provider. This data is associated with the data from your Twitter account (if you have one) or your Twitter profile. You can prevent this by logging out of your account before visiting our website.

We have no control over the type and scope of data processed by Twitter, the manner in which it is processed and used, or the disclosure of this data to third parties. Information about which data is processed by Twitter and for what purposes it is used can be found in X’s privacy policy. There, you have the option to view the personal data collected by X and to adjust settings regarding the use of your data. In addition, on mobile devices (smartphones, tablets), you can use the device’s settings to restrict Twitter’s access to contact and calendar data, photos, location data, etc. However, this depends on the operating system used. Further information on these points is available on the following Twitter support page.

You can also request information using the Twitter privacy form or the archive requests.

Instagram is an online service for sharing photos and videos that is owned by Meta, formerly Facebook. The BMWE uses the technical platform and services provided by Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd., Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland.

When you visit this Instagram page, Instagram automatically collects your IP address and other information that can be retrieved using cookies. These cookies are stored by Instagram on your device, or they may already be there if you haven’t deleted them previously. Instagram provides information about the use of cookies as part of its Cookie Policy. Please note that Meta uses cookies to track your user behavior (across devices for logged-in users) on websites other than Instagram. This applies to both users registered with Instagram and those who are not registered with the service.

The data collected about you in this context is processed by Facebook Ltd. or Meta and may be transferred to countries outside the European Union. Meta, the company behind Facebook, is certified under the „EU–US Data Privacy Framework“ (DPF). The provider describes what information the company receives and how it is used in its Privacy Policy. There you will also find information on how to contact us and on advertising options.

According to Meta, it retains data until it is no longer needed to provide its services and products, or until the user’s account is deleted, whichever occurs first. This depends on the circumstances of each individual case, in particular the type of data, the reason it is collected and processed, and the relevant legal or operational storage requirements. For more information on data storage, please see here.

Meta processes a range of personal data from page visitors in its so-called Page Insights for its own purposes. This processing takes place regardless of whether page visitors are logged into Instagram or not, and regardless of whether they are members of the Instagram network. Even users who access the Instagram pages without being registered or logged in to Instagram have the option to influence the scope of data processing via a cookie banner set by Facebook. Further information on this here.

Website operators such as the BMWE do not have access to the personal data processed in this context, but only to aggregated site insights. These consist of anonymized statistical information about the usage of the Instagram page. For more information, please visit here.

On the LinkedIn platform operated by LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland („LinkedIn“), the BMWE operates a company page in joint responsibility with LinkedIn, where we provide information about the BMWE.

As a provider of an online presence on the social media platform LinkedIn, we process personal data when you contact us directly through the platform (via a private message or the public comment feature). The data collected depends on the information you provide and the contact details you have provided or shared. Please refrain from sending personal data whenever possible when using LinkedIn.

LinkedIn also collects information via cookies and similar technologies (e.g., web beacons, pixels, ad tags, and device identifiers) that enable LinkedIn to recognize users and comprehensively analyze user behavior. LinkedIn provides us with this information in anonymized form to analyze user behavior on our online presence. This enables us to statistically evaluate the use of our LinkedIn page and thereby manage our activities in a targeted manner.

Using the data collected in this way, the operator of the social media platform can also create user profiles. This enables the operator to display interest-based advertising to the user both on and off the respective social media platform. If you are logged into your social media account when visiting our LinkedIn page, LinkedIn may also associate this visit with your account. Our processing of personal data collected via the platform is based on Art. 6(1)(e) GDPR. If LinkedIn asks you for consent to the data processing described above, the legal basis for this processing is Art. 6(1)(a) and Art. 7 of the GDPR.

We have entered into an agreement with LinkedIn pursuant to Article 26 of the GDPR, which allocates the data protection obligations arising from the operation of our company page between us and LinkedIn. LinkedIn has assumed a large portion of the data protection obligations, such as the fulfillment of data subjects’ rights under Article 12 et seq. GDPR, the obligation to maintain appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect the security of personal data, as well as the reporting and notification obligations in the event of a data breach. If you contact us regarding your data subject rights, we will immediately forward your request to LinkedIn.

For more information about the agreement between us and LinkedIn, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/124838?lang=de and https://legal.linkedin.com/pages-joint-controller-addendum

For the short-form messaging service Threads offered here, the BMWE relies on the technical platform and services provided by Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd., Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland. Threads is closely linked to Instagram and shares with that platform the Cookie Policy and the Privacy Policy. The Meta Group, which owns Threads, is certified under the „EU–US Data Privacy Framework“ (DPF).

We have no control over the type and scope of data processed by Threads, or over Threads„ sharing of this data with third parties. In its “Supplementary Privacy Policy“The operator describes what profile and activity data is collected from logged-in and non-logged-in users and their devices, and how this data is linked together.” You can only prevent Meta from creating a cross-platform profile by logging out of each Meta product before using it and deleting the respective cookies from your device.

The length of time Threads stores personal data and the reasons for doing so are consistent with those of Meta and Instagram Privacy Policy ...as stated there, the BMWE receives only anonymized statistical information regarding the use of its Threads page.

The BMWE uses the Mastodon instance operated by the Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information for its Mastodon account. You can find their privacy policy, notices, and rules of conduct for using the Mastodon instance here: https://social.bund.de/terms.

When you access the site, register, or use the service, an encrypted connection is established with the web server on which the instance is running. In order to display the content correctly on your device, the following data, among other things, is processed in accordance with the HTTP and TCP/IP protocols:

• the IP address of your Internet connection,
• the operating system and version of your device, the display resolution of your device,
• the web browser you are using and its version, as well as
• the time you accessed the website.

This is necessary for loading, processing, displaying, and controlling the website. After each visit to the site, some of the data is stored in log files and processed for server maintenance and security purposes. The IP address is deleted no later than 14 days after the visit.

The BfDI's Mastodon instance collects the IP address from which you access the instance. All logged-in sessions are available in your settings for you to review and revoke.

The BfDI’s Mastodon instance uses cookies to function. These are text files that allow users to be recognized. This enables registered users, for example, to navigate to different subpages of the instance without having to log in again each time. None of the cookies used are intended to analyze and/or track the usage behavior of the users. All cookies used are exclusively so-called session cookies that are deleted at the latest when the browser is closed.

The BMWE uses the services of TikTok Technology Limited, 10 Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin, D02 T380, Ireland, for its public relations work. The platform’s privacy policy can be found here.

TikTok collects a range of technical data (IP address, MAC address, operating system, system language, keystroke patterns, and much more), as well as your location, information about your apps and chats depending on your settings, creates pseudonymous user IDs, and analyzes your usage data extensively to create a profile of you. According to its own policy, the provider obtains most of this information via cookies. The platform links this data with data from third-party sources and makes it available to numerous third parties for commercial purposes.

We have no control over the type and scope of data processed and shared by TikTok. The platform stores this data on servers located around the world. According to its own privacy policy, TikTok retains your data for at least as long as you have an account on the platform. We do not know when the company actually deletes your data.

As part of its public relations efforts, the BMWE also presents its work on this website in the form of videos. These videos are hosted by the German provider TV1. They are displayed in your browser using the JW Player, a cloud-based application. The company behind the JW Player is headquartered in the United States.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we need your consent to transmit your IP address and other data to TV1 and the JW Player in order to show you our video content. Under the Act on Data Protection and the Protection of Privacy in Telecommunications and Telemedia (TTDSG), we require your consent so that the JW Player may store a cookie on your device.

You can give us your consent via the window that appears when you click. Alternatively, we provide a slider in the top right corner so that you can give or withdraw your consent at any time. Your consent to the use of both services serves as the legal basis for their provision in accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR.

Data Processing by TV1 GmbH

We have commissioned TV1 GmbH, located at Beta-Straße 9a, 85774 Unterföhring, to host our videos. When you start playing a video, the following data is automatically transmitted to TV1’s ISO 2007-certified servers located in Germany:

• Your IP address;
• Your access and usage data.

The sole purpose of this data collection is to provide, manage, and deliver our videos to you. Third parties will not have access to your data. Unless there are specific legal reasons to the contrary, the log files will be deleted after 30 days.

Data processing by the JW Player

We have integrated the JW Player as a plugin on our website to play our videos. This service is operated by LongTail Ad Solutions, Inc., 530 7th Avenue, Ste. 1906, New York, NY 10018, United States.

Provided you have given your consent, JW Player transmits the following data to its servers in the United States:

• Your IP address;
• Primarily technical data (browser type and version, operating system, hardware type, pseudonymized device ID, hardware IP address, diagnostic data);
• Usage data (date and time of access, an identifier for each video viewed, duration of each video, your interactions with the plugin), collected via tracking technologies such as pixel tags, web beacons, and scripts;
• other aggregated information.

JW Player generates and stores pseudonymous IDs on its servers in order to identify and link the JW Player plugin being used, end users, and individual sessions.

The JW Player stores a pseudonymous ID in a cookie on your device to identify the JW Player plugin you are using. Cookies remain on your device until you delete them. After the session ends, you can always manage cookies in your browser according to your preferences. For example, if you do not want the JW Player to be able to analyze the information in its cookies about you beyond the session, you can delete or disable cookies in your browser settings at any time. Please note that after disabling or deleting cookies, various functions may no longer be fully available.

The purpose of this data processing is to deliver the video to you without any interruptions. In addition, the provider aims to improve its products and provide statistics to business customers.

If you are a European citizen or a person located in Europe and have enabled the „Do Not Track“ feature in your browser, JW Player promises not to create a pseudonymous ID and not to be able to identify you through it.

We have no control over how JW Player processes data. Please review the information provided here about the company's privacy policy.

The BMWE uses the video platform Vimeo, a U.S.-based company, to livestream our press conferences.

In accordance with Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR, we require your consent to transmit your IP address to Vimeo in order to enable you to view the live stream of our press conferences.

When you click to enable the live stream via Vimeo, you will first be asked to consent to the data transfer. You can give your consent by clicking the corresponding checkbox. The stream will then start. You can revoke your consent at any time using a slider; the stream will then stop automatically.

Data collection by Vimeo

The Vimeo platform is operated by Vimeo, Inc., 555 West 18th Street, New York, New York 10011. Subject to your consent, the following data is transmitted to Vimeo servers in the United States when you access a live stream:

• Your IP address;
• Your access and usage data.

At the same time, Vimeo places one or more technically necessary cookies on your device. These cookies remain on your device until you delete them. To do so, you can use your web browser’s cookie settings. Please note that after disabling or deleting cookies, various features may no longer be fully available.

We have enabled the „Do Not Track“ feature on Vimeo on our website. According to Vimeo, this means that Vimeo does not store any information about visitors to this website before they view the live stream.

If you are logged into your Vimeo account, you are allowing Vimeo to associate your browsing activity directly with your personal profile. You can prevent this by logging out of your Vimeo account.

We have no control over how Vimeo processes data. Please visit the Vimeo website to learn more about the privacy practices of the company behind it.

The processing of personal data depends on the type of information provided. In this regard, we distinguish between the distribution of our newsletter or printed materials and informational visits to the BMWE.

When you subscribe to one of the BMWE’s newsletter distribution lists, we store your email address, the date and time of your registration, and the type of newsletter you selected on a server. The processing of this data is based on your consent pursuant to Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR (Consent). We use this data exclusively for sending the newsletters and for statistical evaluations to analyze system performance. We do not disclose your data to third parties who do not act exclusively on our behalf for these purposes, nor do we use it for any other purposes of our own.

The sign-up system, which includes an additional confirmation email containing a link to complete registration (double opt-in), ensures that you have explicitly requested the newsletter.

When you register, your information will be stored on our server, and a confirmation message containing a link to complete the registration will be sent to the email address you provided. If you do not confirm your registration by clicking the link in this email, your information will be deleted after 48 hours.

Your data will only be stored for the purpose of sending the newsletter—and only for as long as you subscribe to our newsletter—once you click the confirmation link in the email.

If you no longer consent to the storage of your data for this purpose and therefore no longer wish to use our services, you can unsubscribe from our newsletters at any time. The data you provided will be deleted, provided there is no legal obligation to retain it for a longer period. Please follow this link to unsubscribe. To do so, you will need the email address you provided when you signed up.

The BMWE is responsible for processing your personal data as part of the application process. In order to make selection decisions during the application process, the BMWE collects information from applicants regarding their personal details, professional background, education, professional and personal qualifications, as well as, where applicable, information regarding a severe disability or equal treatment.

The certificates, résumés, cover letters, and other documents you are required to submit as part of the application process (usually via Interamt) contain personal data within the meaning of Article 4(1) of the GDPR. We process this personal data exclusively and only to the extent necessary for the purpose of establishing an employment relationship (Article 88(1) of the GDPR in conjunction with Section 26(1) and (3) of the Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG)).

Within the BMWE, only those employees who are responsible for conducting the selection process will have access to your personal data. The employee representative bodies (Staff Council, Equal Opportunity Officer, and Representative for Severely Disabled Employees) receive the data so that they can fulfill their duties under the Federal Personnel Representation Act (BPersVG), the Federal Equal Opportunity Act (BGleiG), or Book IX of the Social Code (SGB IX). In addition, the Budget and Organization Division is involved in the filling of positions in the higher civil service. Your personal data will not be disclosed to persons or entities outside the BMWE. Furthermore, no data will be transferred to a country outside the European Union.

We do not use automated decision-making processes as part of the application process. If the application process results in your hiring, your documents will be included in your personnel file to the extent that they are necessary for the employment relationship. Data submitted that is not necessary for the performance of the employment relationship will be deleted five months after the conclusion of the application process. If an employment relationship is not established with you, the data you submitted will also be deleted five months after the application process is completed. Your application documents sent by mail will be returned to you.

If you decide to withdraw your application, we will immediately delete your data and return your documents to you.

To the extent that we process your personal data, you have the following rights with respect to the BMWE: the right of access, the right to rectification, the right to restriction of processing, the right to erasure, and the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.

The BMWE regularly holds telephone and video conferences via the Internet using the Cisco WebEx Cloud service.

For technical reasons, this service temporarily stores the transmission on the service provider’s servers. The recording is automatically deleted at the end of the meeting, unless the meeting organizer has enabled recording beforehand. The BMWE does not use this feature by default and will announce any recording in advance on a case-by-case basis.

Data you have provided in advance (e.g., phone number, email address) will be processed and stored for the purpose of inviting you to a phone or video conference, as well as to ensure the traceability of the administrative process. Please note that the processing of personal data is based on Article 6(1)(e) of the GDPR in conjunction with Section 3 of the BDSG. A corresponding data processing agreement pursuant to Article 28 of the GDPR has been concluded with the service provider Cisco. You can find more detailed information on the handling of personal data there in the Cisco's Data Processing Agreement for the WebEx Cloud can be found in.

The BMWE’s properties are monitored by a video surveillance system in outdoor areas to enforce property rights and for the purposes of security and law enforcement. The video surveillance system operates 24/7. Recording takes place only in the event of an alarm, without audio. Video data is stored temporarily exclusively on data storage devices located centrally in a secure area. Processing is carried out on the basis of Article 6(1)(e) of the GDPR in conjunction with Section 4 of the BDSG.

Each video file is split and distributed across multiple hard drives. These files can only be reassembled using special algorithms provided by the higher-level video management system. The video data is stored temporarily for seven days. The recording time (date and time) is visible in the video sequence. The data is stored accordingly.

If there is initial suspicion (e.g., a break-in), authorized personnel can prevent the data from being overwritten. Data is exported in accordance with the dual-control principle by specially authorized personnel. The collected data is only transmitted to criminal investigation authorities if requested within the framework of a justified police measure or by court order for the purposes mentioned above. The transfer is documented. The transmission of data to the investigative authority generally takes place to the Berlin State Police or the North Rhine-Westphalia State Police on the basis of § 32 BPOLG in conjunction with § 33(2) BPOLG. No data is disclosed in other cases, nor is there any automated comparison with other police information sources.

Right of access: Any person who claims to have been present in a monitored area during a specific time period may, pursuant to Article 15 of the GDPR, request access to the recording, provided it is still available (note the deletion cycle). To do so, they may contact the BMWE using the methods listed above.

The information requested during event registration varies depending on the specific event. When you use the registration form, the information entered in the data fields is transmitted to the BMWE. The sender’s IP address is not recorded.

When you register for an event using our event form, your personal data will be collected, stored, and processed by the BMWE for the purpose of organizing the event in question and for security purposes, and will be deleted no later than 30 days after your visit. Should an incident make it necessary, the data may also be stored for a longer period and, if necessary, forwarded to investigative authorities. By submitting your registration, you hereby give your consent to this.

The registrant certifies that he/she has informed the individuals listed under „Additional Participants“ that their personal data will be collected, stored, and processed by the BMWE for the purpose of organizing the above-mentioned event and for security purposes, and that it will be deleted no later than 30 days after the event. The named person(s) has/have given their consent to the registrant.

The data collected as part of an event registration is collected and processed for the purpose of organizing and conducting the event. Please note that the processing of the data submitted via the form and the content (which may also contain personal data provided by you) is based on Article 6(1)(e) of the GDPR in conjunction with Section 3 of the BDSG for the purpose of processing your request.

Accreditation requests are processed by the relevant staff members at the BMWE. The BMWE stores your data for the purpose of processing your request and in accordance with legal and contractual requirements. The data will be deleted no later than 30 days after the end of the event. The contents of the BMWE accreditation form are transmitted via an encrypted HTTPS connection.

The data collected as part of the press accreditation process is collected and processed for the purpose of the accreditation procedure. The specific data requested during the accreditation process depends on the event in question. When using the registration form, the content of the data fields is transmitted to the BMWE. The sender’s IP address is not recorded in this process.

Please note that the processing of the data and content submitted via the form (which may also contain personal data provided by you) is based on Article 6(1)(e) of the GDPR in conjunction with Section 3 of the BDSG for the purpose of processing your request.

Accreditation requests are processed by the staff of the BMWE Press Office. The Press Office stores your data for the purpose of processing your request and in accordance with legal and contractual requirements.

As part of the accreditation process, the data is transmitted to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) for the purpose of verifying security-related circumstances. After the review, the BKA deletes the data transmitted to it, provided it sees no further cause for action. If the applicant does not consent to this processing of their data, accreditation cannot be granted.

The information on the BMWE accreditation form is transmitted via an encrypted HTTPS connection. In order to send press releases to representatives of the press for editorial use or for their information and to invite them to the Ministry’s press events, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy collects, stores, and uses their personal data (name, contact information) on the basis of Art. 6(1)(e) in conjunction with § 3 BDSG.

You have the following rights with respect to your personal data vis-à-vis the BMWE:

• Right of access, Art. 15 GDPR The right of access allows the data subject to obtain comprehensive insight into the data concerning them, as well as certain other important details, such as the purposes of processing or the duration of storage. The exceptions to this right set forth in § 34 BDSG apply.
• Right to Rectification, Art. 16 GDPR The right to rectification allows the data subject to have inaccurate personal data concerning them corrected.
• Right to erasure, Art. 17 GDPR The right to erasure gives the data subject the option to have data erased by the controller. However, this is only possible if the personal data concerning the data subject is no longer necessary, is being processed unlawfully, or consent for such processing has been withdrawn. The exceptions to this right set forth in § 35 BDSG apply.
• Right to restriction of processing, Art. 18 GDPR The right to restriction of processing allows the data subject to prevent further processing of personal data concerning him or her for the time being. A restriction typically applies during the period in which the data subject is exercising other rights.
• Right to object to the collection, processing, and/or use of personal data, Art. 21 GDPR The right to object allows data subjects to object to the further processing of their personal data in specific situations, provided that such processing is justified by the performance of public tasks or the protection of public or private interests. The exceptions to this right set forth in § 36 BDSG apply.
• Right to data portability, Art. 20 GDPR The right to data portability gives the data subject the option to receive the personal data concerning him or her from the controller in a commonly used, machine-readable format, so that it can be transmitted to another controller if necessary. However, pursuant to Art. 20(3), second sentence, of the GDPR, this right does not apply if the data processing is necessary for the performance of a public task.
• Right to Withdraw Consent, Articles 13 and 14 of the GDPR: Where the processing of personal data is based on consent, the data subject may withdraw such consent at any time for the relevant purpose, with effect for the future. The lawfulness of the processing based on the consent given remains unaffected until the withdrawal is received.

You may exercise the aforementioned rights in writing by contacting us using the contact information provided in Section 1.1.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the data protection supervisory authority pursuant to Article 77 of the GDPR, namely the Federal Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, to.

You may also contact the data protection officer at the BMWE, as listed in section 1.1, with any questions or complaints.