1 a) Server logs
What data is processed?
With each call of the page www.familyship.org (or a subpage), the following metadata are stored in the log files of the server:
- the browser you are using when calling and its version
- the operating system you use when you access the site
- the website from which you have reached our site (so-called referrer)
- Information about the pages you visit on Familyship.org
- the date and time of your access
- your Internet Protocol (IP) address
- the Internet service provider of the accessing system (e.g. Deutsche Telekom, NetCologne…)
Why and on what legal basis is the data collected?
The data is processed on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f (legitimate interest). They do not allow any conclusion about your person.
Rather, this information is needed to:
- to deliver the contents of our website correctly,
- to ensure the long-term functionality of our information technology systems and the technology of our website, and
- to provide law enforcement authorities with the information necessary for prosecution in the event of a cyberattack.
Will the data be transferred to third parties?
Yes, the collected data is analyzed by our external developer. Furthermore, they are stored on a server hosted by our hosting provider. Both parties are domiciled in Germany, so there is no transfer abroad.
1 b) Google Analytics
We have integrated Google Analytics (with anonymization function) on Familyship. The operating company of the Google Analytics component is Google Inc, 1600 Amphitheatre Pkwy, Mountain View, CA 94043-1351, USA.
Click here to opt out of web tracking by Google Analytics. Note: this will place a cookie in your browser that contains the information that you do not want to be tracked by Google Analytics. If you use Familyship with a different device or a different browser, you must object to the use there again. The “tracking ban” only applies to the current browser and only as long as you do not delete all cookies.
What data is processed?
- Origin (country and city)
- Language
- Operating system
- Device (PC, tablet PC or smartphone)
- Browser and all add-ons used
- Computer resolution
- Source of visitors (Facebook, search engine or referring website)
- What files were downloaded?
- Where did the visitor go? Did he click on other pages of the portal or did he leave it completely?
- How long did the visitor stay?
Why and on what legal basis is the data collected?
The data is processed on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f (legitimate interest). The purpose of the Google Analytics component is to analyze the flow of visitors to our website. Google uses the data and information obtained, among other things, to evaluate the use of our website in order to compile online reports for us.
Will the data be transferred to third parties?
Yes, there is a transfer of data to the USA to Google. Google may share the data with third parties. Feel free to read Google’s privacy policy or learn more about how Google Analytics works.
1 c) Matomo (formerly “Piwik”)
We want to continuously improve our website. For this purpose, we evaluate data during page usage. We do this with the webanylse tool “Matomo”. Matomo creates profiles of a user based on pseudonyms. For this purpose, permanent cookies are stored on your computer/smartphone and read by us. This enables us to recognize users who come to our website on a recurring basis. We also use the Heatmap and Session Recording modules. The heatmap service displays the areas of our website where the mouse was moved the most or clicked the most. The session recording service records individual user sessions. We may replay recorded sessions to analyze the use of our website. Data entered in forms or personal messages are not recorded.
Why and on what legal basis is the data collected?
The data is processed on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f (legitimate interest), provided that you have given your consent via our cookie banner. You can revoke your consent at any time. Please choose the appropriate settings in our cookie banner for this. The purpose is to analyze the flow of visitors to our website.
For more information about Matomo’s terms of use and data protection regulations, please visit: https://matomo.org/privacy/.
Will the data be transferred to third parties?
No. The web analytics tool Matomo is installed on Familyship’s servers, so no third-party data is processed.
1 d) Form data / Google Recaptcha
We use some contact forms on the website. As soon as you fill out and submit a form, the data entered is transmitted to us and stored. As a rule, this is your name, your e-mail address and various content details. We inform you about the specific processing of the data in the context of the use of the form and obtain your consent. In addition, reference is made to this privacy policy. The data will be used exclusively for the processing of the conversation.
To prevent misuse of our forms, e.g. by bots, we use the Google Recaptcha function. Recaptcha is used to exclude mass machine use of the contact form. When a form is called up, a connection is established to the provider’s servers. The provider of Recaptcha is Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. Here you have the possibility to object to the use:please click here.
What data is processed?
- all data entered in the form (usually name, e-mail address, request)
The following data is transferred to the Recaptcha provider:
- Your IP address
- your set language in the browser
- your screen and window resolution
- Your time zone
- your installation of browser plugins
In addition, Google Recaptcha also checks whether a cookie has already been created in your browser. If this is not the case, Google creates a cookie. Specifically, this means that Google takes a kind of “fingerprint” of you, which is also recognized on other sites. This allows Google to track you across sites – even if your IP address changes or you delete the cookies. For details, see Google’s privacy policy.
Why and on what legal basis is the data collected?
The legal basis for the processing of data when using the contact form is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR. The processing of personal data from the input mask serves us solely to process the contact. The data will be deleted as soon as the matter has been resolved. You have the possibility to revoke your consent to the processing of personal data at any time.
Will the data be transferred to third parties?
Yes, the above data will be transferred to the Recaptcha provider.
1 e) Plugin: Wordfence
To protect the website from malicious attacks, we have the “Wordfence” plugin in use. The operating company is DEFIANT, 800 5th Ave Ste 4100, Seattle, WA 98104.
Wordfence currently sets three cookies. Below we explain what each cookie does, who set the cookie, and why the cookie helps protect the site.
- wfwaf-authcookie- (hash)What it does:
This cookie is used by the WORDFENCE firewall to perform a capability check on the current user before WordPress loads. Who gets this cookie: This cookie is set only for users who can log into WordPress.How this cookie helps:
With this cookie, the WORDFENCE firewall recognizes logged-in users and allows them increased access. WORDFENCE can also detect users who are not logged in and restrict their access to secure areas. The cookie informs the firewall what level of access a visitor has to help the firewall make smart decisions about who to allow and who to block.
- wf_loginalerted_ (hash)What it does:
This cookie is used to notify the WORDFENCE administrator when an administrator logs in from a new device or location.Who receives this cookie: This cookie is set for administrators only. How this cookie helps: This cookie helps website operators know if an admin login has occurred from a new device or location.
- wfCBLBypassWhat it does: WORDFENCE offers a site visitor the ability to bypass country blocking by accessing a hidden URL. This cookie is used to track who is allowed to bypass country blocking.Who receives this cookie: When a hidden URL defined by the site administrator is accessed, this cookie is used to check if the user can access the site from a country restricted by country blocking. This is set for anyone who knows the URL that allows bypassing the default country blocking. This cookie is not set for someone who does not know the hidden URL to bypass country blocking. How this cookie helps: This cookie gives website owners the ability to allow certain users blocked countries, even though their country has been blocked.
More information about the handling of user data can be found in DEFIANT’s privacy policy.
1 f) Google Tag Manager
Familyship uses the Google Tag Manager. The provider behind this tool is Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. Specifically, we use Google Tag Manager to measure the success of Google Ads. The Tag Manager serves as an “interface” between our website and Google Ads.
What data is processed?
IP address
Why and on what legal basis is the data collected?
The use of the Google Tag Manager is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. Familyship has a legitimate interest in the quick and easy integration and management of various tools on our website.
Will the data be transferred to third parties?
Yes, to Google Ads. However, this only takes place if you have given your consent for this in the cookie settings. This can be revoked at any time via the cookie settings.
1g) Google signals (marketing)
We use the Google service “Google Signals” (operator: Google LLC) for the more targeted display of online advertisements.
What data is processed?
When you visit our website, Google Analytics records your location, search history, YouTube history and demographic data (visitor data), among other things.
Why and on what legal basis is the data collected?
This data can be used for personalized advertising with the help of Google signals. If you have a Google account, Google Signal’s visitor data will be linked to your Google account and used for personalized advertising messages. The data is also used to compile anonymous statistics on the user behavior of our users. The use of Google signals is based on your consent and thus in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR.
Will the data be transferred to third parties?
Yes, the data is transferred to Google in the USA.
2) Master data
During a registration on Familyship the following information is required for the fulfillment of the contract.
What data is processed?
- Username
- E-mail address
- Password
- Payment data (depending on the payment method) -> information about which data is transferred can be found in the next section.
Why and on what legal basis is the data collected?
The data is processed on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b (performance of a contract). On the one hand, they are necessary to be able to technically create the account, on the other hand, they are required for payment processing.
Will the data be transferred to third parties?
Yes, the email server is hosted by our hosting provider, so the data is processed there. The server location is Germany.
Payment data is also transferred to third parties – depending on the payment method.
- Credit card payment:
When paying by credit card, the payment is processed via the payment service provider Stripe. Your credit card data is encrypted and sent to a server outside the EU. Stripe is PCI DSS certified and subject to the Safe Harbour Agreement. Information about which data is transferred can be found in the Stripe privacy policy.
3) Profile data
What data is processed?
User profiles are a central component of the community. In order to enable our users to find the right family founder, the information in the profile is a central basis for our contract fulfillment. Each user introduces himself to the other users with the information in his personal profile and describes what ideas he has about the family project. The data you enter will be collected and stored exclusively for the use of Familyship. You are free to change the personal data provided at any time or to delete it completely from the database. We would like to point out that we cooperate with external service providers (hosting service providers, programmers), who have technical access to the data through their activities. However, this data is not used by our external service providers. Specifically, this is the following data (mandatory fields are marked with *):
- (Profile) picture/Avatar: A photo says more than 1000 words. A profile photo allows your counterpart to evaluate quite quickly whether you are likeable to him or not. Of course, you don’t necessarily have to post a portrait of yourself. Instead, you can also choose a photo that is important to you or that characterizes you well.
- Username*: On Familyship you do not have to use your real name, but you can choose a nickname/username.
- My status: with this information you have the possibility to tell other users in which stage of family formation you are currently.
- My role in the family*:
Describe the role you would like to play in the future family.
- My interest on Familyship:
Hereby you tell other users if you are interested in e.g. or if you are looking for a partner to start a family.
- My orientation:
Specifying the orientation allows other users to search specifically for suitable partners to start a family. Through this, for example, a single woman who is herself heterosexually oriented could look for a gay couple with whom she would like to start a family.
- My relationship status:
cf. orientation
- My profile text:
With the profile text you can introduce yourselves as well as your family desire.
- My age:
For many users, the age of the other person is important in order to be able to assess whether starting a family together is an option. The specification of the date of birth is optional.
- City*:
If you want to start a family together, physical proximity is important. For this reason, users must provide information about their place(s) of residence. By entering a city in the profile, a conversion of the input into machine-readable geodata takes place in the background. These allow other users to search at a specific location with a fixed defined radius. The geodata are transferred to the Open Streetmap tool (cf. Other data).
- Note on place of residence:
Here you have the possibility to add a note. For example, if a move is planned or you are located in more than one place.
- Country: see city
- My interests: Here you have the possibility to enter your personal interests. In this way it is possible to search for other users with similar interests.
- Languages:
Show other users which languages you speak, so they know which languages they can use to write to you.
Publication of a profile extract
Please note that the last ten new registrations are automatically displayed in the public area of Familyship. The following will be displayed: your username, the date of your last activity on Familyship, the role you have specified as well as the first 240 characters of your request text.
Why and on what legal basis is the data collected?
The data is processed on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b (performance of a contract). Profiles are needed to enable users to find a partner to start a family on a friendly basis.
Will the data be transferred to third parties?
Yes, the site is hosted by our hosting provider, so the data is processed there. The server location is Germany. Furthermore, data is transferred to Open Streetmap.
4) Other data
4 a) Geolocation
In order to be able to show you users in your vicinity during your search via Familyship, we use the services of HERE Global B.V. (hereinafter HERE). Therefore, during your search, the following data, among others, will be transmitted to HERE.
What data is processed?
- Location data and location information
- Technical details like your IP address, time zone, device type
For detailed information on what data is transmitted, please refer to HERE’s privacy policy.
Why and on what legal basis is the data collected?
The data is processed on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f (legitimate interest). Our interest is to provide you with the simplest and most accurate regional search for a suitable family founder.
Will the data be transferred to third parties?
Yes, the above data will be transferred to HERE.
4 b) Video integration with Vimeo
We use the provider Vimeo for the integration of videos. Vimeo is operated by Vimeo, LLC, headquartered at 555 West 18th Street, New York, New York 10011.
On some subpages we use a plugin of the provider Vimeo to embed videos. If you call up the website provided with such a plugin (e.g. our “Help & Support” page), a connection to the Vimeo servers is established and the plugin is displayed. This transmits to the Vimeo server which of our subpages you have visited. If you use Vimeo yourself and are logged in there, Vimeo establishes a connection between your Vimeo user account and the subpage you visit on our site. You can prevent the assignment by logging out of Vimeo before visiting the subpage at Familyship and deleting the corresponding cookies from Vimeo.
Further information on data processing and privacy notices by Vimeo
4 c) Management of customer data / sending e-mails with Brevo (formerly Sendinblue)
We use the tool “Brevo” to manage your account data and to send e-mails. Brevo is a service provided by Sendinblue GmbH for managing e-mail addresses and sending messages.
After your registration the following data will be sent to Brevo:
Metadata:
- User_ID
- Registration date
- Transaction data about your order
- Date of your last activity on Familyship
- Number of online consultations used
- E-mail settings
Profile data:
- Account status
- E-mail
- Username / Display Name
- Date of birth
- Pixelated photo
- Country / State / City
- Profile information about yourself and the people you are looking for
- Desired language with which we may address you
We need this information so that we can contact you by e-mail in a meaningful way. With Brevo’s service, we evaluate if/when you open one of our emails. This way we can tell when a topic is of particular interest to you, or even when you no longer seem interested in Familyship.
Brevo also allows us to subdivide (“cluster”) our user:s based on different categories. The recipients can be subdivided, for example, according to the desired role in the family or the place of residence. This allows us to better tailor the information and offers we provide to your needs.
Why and on what legal basis is the data collected?
The data is processed on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f (legitimate interest). Our interest is to be able to address you meaningfully by e-mail.
Will the data be transferred to third parties?
Yes, the data will be transmitted to Brevo. The server location is Germany. For more details, check out Brevo’s privacy policy.
If you don’t want to allow Brevo to analyze you, you unfortunately have to delete your Familyship account
4d) Podcast hosting with Podigee
We use the podcast hosting service Podigee of the provider Podigee GmbH, Schlesische Straße 20, 10997 Berlin, Germany. The podcasts are loaded from Podigee or transmitted via Podigee. The use is based on our legitimate interests, i.e. interest in a safe and efficient provision, analysis and optimization of our podcast offer in accordance with the German Data Protection Act. Art. 6 par. 1 lit. f. GDPR.
Podigee processes IP addresses and device information to enable podcast downloads/playbacks and to gather statistical data, such as view counts. This data is anonymized or pseudonymized before being stored in Podigee’s database, unless it is necessary for the provision of the podcasts.
For more information and opt-out options, please see Podigee’s privacy policy.
4 e) Cookies
Here you can change your [borlabs-cookie type=”btn-cookie-preference” title=”Cookie settings” /].
We use cookies for the following things:
- If you save your login, this will be stored by a cookie. If you delete the cookies in your browser, you will have to enter your user ID again.
- Web tracking: Google Analytics also places a cookie on your computer. With this, it measures, for example, whether you have visited Familyship’s pages in the past. Details on Google Analytics can be found under point 1b).
Why and on what legal basis is the data collected?
The data is processed on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f (legitimate interest). Our interest is to make our site as easy and comfortable to use as possible.
Will the data be transferred to third parties?
Yes, the cookie responsible for web tracking transmits data to Google (see point 1b). Data from the remaining cookies are not transferred to third parties.
4 f) Backup service
For security reasons, Familyship is regularly backed up and stored on an external system.
What data is processed?
The backup includes both your master data as well as your profile data incl. any photos that you have stored in your profile.
Why and on what legal basis is the data processed?
The data is processed on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f (legitimate interest). Our interest is to be able to continue to operate Familyship even in the event of data loss (e.g. due to a hacker attack). Backups are necessary for this.
Will the data be transferred to third parties?
Yes, for IT security reasons the backups are transferred to the cloud provider Hetzner Online GmbH. The server location is Germany.
5) Contact possibility via the website
If you contact us by e-mail, the personal data you send us will be stored automatically. Such personal data transmitted on a voluntary basis will only be used to process your request.
Emails are stored both locally on the computers of Familyship employees and on a server located at a hosting provider in Germany until they are finally processed. After answering the e-mail, it will be deleted immediately. In order to be able to better classify the case in the event of a query or follow-up inquiry, we therefore request that you include the previous course of our correspondence.
What data is processed?
- E-mail address: the rest of the data depends on the content of your mail – you are free to sign with your first and/or last name.
Why and on what legal basis is the data collected?
The data is processed on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f (legitimate interest). Our interest is to answer your requests.
Will the data be transferred to third parties?
Yes, since the email server is hosted by our hosting provider, there is a transmission to third parties. The server location is Germany.
6) Data deletion
We process and store personal data from you only for the period necessary to achieve the purpose of storage.
In concrete terms, this means that your master and profile data will be retained until you delete the profile data or delete your account completely. If the purpose of storage ceases to apply, the personal data is deleted.
Please note that your master and profile data (including photos that you store in your profile) of our backups (see point 4 e) will be deleted after 8 weeks.
7) Your rights
Right to confirmation
You have the right to request confirmation from us as to whether we are processing personal data about you. If a user wishes to exercise this right of confirmation, he or she may contact us at any time (for example, by sending an e-mail to info@familyship.org).
Right to information
Every user has the right to receive from us at any time free of charge information about the personal data stored about him and a copy of this information.
Right to rectification
You have the right to have incorrect personal data corrected immediately (however, this should also be done independently in the profile at any time). If you would like to exercise this right, please contact us at info@familyship.org. In order to be able to correctly assign your request, we need your username or the e-mail address you entered during registration.
Right to erasure (right to be forgotten)
You have the right to demand that we delete personal data immediately (by the way, you can also delete your account yourself and thereby irrevocably delete all data).
Right to data portability
You have the right to receive the personal data concerning you, which has been provided to us by you, in a structured, common and machine-readable format.
Right of complaint to a supervisory authority
You have the right to complain to the supervisory authority.
Right to object
You have the right to object at any time, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to the processing of personal data concerning you which is carried out on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 letters e or f DS-GVO.
Right to revoke consent under data protection law
You have the right to withdraw your consent to the processing of personal data at any time. This is not necessary in the present case, since the personal data we process have all been collected with the legal basis to fulfill the contract. Accordingly, no separate consent is required for this data.
7) Details on the right to object
You can revoke your consent to the processing of personal data at any time. Please send your revocation by e-mail to info@familyship.org. Please note that we will have to delete your account in case of objection, as at least the specification of an e-mail address is technically necessary for the existence of a user account. We cannot refund the membership fee in this case.
Last revision: November 16, 2023
