Data Protection Website

Data protection on the AZ Direct GmbH website

We stand for security and transparency - day after day, in everything we do. We have also developed Data SecureTTP, a patented, unique process that makes data processing even more secure.

As a member of the German Dialogue Marketing Association (DDV), we guarantee compliance with data security standards as well as the highest level of professionalism and quality.

The data protection information fulfils the information obligations in accordance with the requirements of Art. 12 ff. of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (hereinafter referred to as ‘GDPR’) and gives you an overview of the processing of your personal data (hereinafter referred to as ‘data’) on this website.

1. Who is responsible for processing my data?

AZ Direct GmbH
Carl-Bertelsmann-Str. 161 S
33311 Gütersloh
Phone: +49 5241 80-70800
Telefax: +49 5241 80-9317
E-mail: az(at)bertelsmann.de

is the operator of the website and is responsible under data protection law for the personal data collected about you here. AZ Direct GmbH processes personal data in accordance with the provisions of the GDPR and and the Federal Data Protection Act (hereinafter “BDSG” [Bundesdatenschutzgesetz]).

You can contact AZ Direct's data protection officer at the above postal address or at the e-mail address with the addition ‘To the data protection officer’.

AZ Direct GmbH
Data protection officer
Carl-Bertelsmann-Str. 161 S
33311 Gütersloh
Phone: +49 5241 80-75039
Telefax: +49 5241 80-66909
E-mail: az.datenschutz@bertelsmann.de

2. What data is collected?

When you visit the website, information is automatically collected by the accessing computer (hereinafter referred to as ‘access data’). This access data includes server log files, which usually consist of information about the browser type and version, the operating system, the Internet service provider, the date and time of use of the website, the previously visited websites and newly accessed websites via the website and the IP address of the computer. With the exception of the IP address, the server log files are not personally identifiable. An IP address is personally identifiable if it is permanently assigned when the Internet connection is used and the Internet provider can assign it to a person.

3. Do you use cookies?

Cookies are used on the website. Cookies are small text files that are stored on your computer when you visit a website. The stored cookies are assigned to the browser you are using. If the corresponding website is called up again, the web browser sends back the content of the cookies and thus enables the user to be recognised. Certain cookies are deleted when you log out or end the browser session (so-called ‘transient cookies’). Other cookies are stored for a specified period of time or permanently (so-called ‘temporary cookies’ or ‘persistent cookies’). These cookies are deleted automatically after the defined time has expired. You can also delete cookies at any time in the security settings of your browser and configure the use of cookies according to your wishes. However, AZ Direct would like to point out that you may not be able to use all the functions of the website.

According to applicable law, we can store cookies on your device if they are absolutely necessary for the operation of the website. However, we require your explicit consent to set other types of cookies in accordance with Section 25 (1) TDDDG. When you visit our website, you will therefore be informed about the use of cookies and their significance via our consent management platform. In this context, you also have the opportunity to consent to the setting of optional cookies.

Which cookies are used in detail and to what extent can be tracked at any time via our consent management platform. However, the cookies we use can be roughly categorised as follows.

1. Necessary cookies help to make a website usable by enabling basic functions such as page navigation and access to secure areas of the website. The website cannot function properly without these cookies.
2. Functional cookies help us to understand how visitors interact with the website by collecting information about the specific use of the website and analysing it in pseudonymised or anonymised form.
3. Marketing cookies are cookies that are set by us or our partners (e.g. analysis tools, advertising partners) to create a profile of your interests and to be able to show you relevant advertising on other websites. Although we do not use and share any directly personal data (e.g. personal master data), personal data from your browser and/or end device (e.g. IP address) is used and shared with our partners.

The legal basis for the setting of necessary cookies is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR in conjunction with § 25 para. 2 sentence 2 TDDDG. Necessary cookies are set to ensure the technical provision and usability of the website and to be able to provide you with the website content as a digital service.

The legal basis for the setting of optional cookies (functional and marketing cookies) for the purpose of recording and evaluating (pseudonymous) user profiles as well as for the creation of interest groups and for the purpose of carrying out user analyses by us or our partners is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR in conjunction with § 25 para. 1 TDDDG. Data processing is carried out on the basis of your consent to data processing using our consent management platform.

You can revoke your consent to the processing of your data in the context of the use of optional cookies at any time with effect for the future. The revocation can be made technically by opting out via our consent management platform on this website via ‘Manage cookies’ or by technically clearing cookies using your browser.

4. What data is recorded and for what purpose?

The purposes of data processing may result from technical, contractual or legal requirements and, where applicable, from consent.

We use the data specified in sections 2 and 3 for the following purposes:

• to provide the Website and ensure technical security, in particular to correct technical errors and to ensure that unauthorized persons do not gain access to the Website's systems
• to ensure that the consent management platform settings you have selected are taken into account
• for communication, contract initiation and customer care;
• to generate newsletter consents, to send and evaluate newsletters
• for reach measurements and web analyses in order to make the website more efficient and interesting for you and to conduct market research
• for online advertising
• Integrated third-party plug-ins/widgets

Further information about these purposes for processing data is available in the following sections of this data protection notice.

4.1 Technical provision of the website

4.1.1 Description and scope of data processing

For the functionality of the website, the performance of security analyses and the defense against attacks, the server log files are automatically recorded and temporarily stored by the computer system of the accessing computer when entering and using the website as part of the access data according to section 2. The server log files are not stored together with other data. AZ Direct uses the server log files for statistical evaluations, to analyze and rectify technical faults, to ward off attempted attacks and fraud and to optimize the functionality of the website. The legal basis for the collection of server log files is Section 25 (2) No. 2 TDDDG and Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR. The legitimate interests of AZ Direct lie in the functionality of the website, the performance of security analyses and the prevention of threats.

After accessing the web pages, the server log files are stored on the web server and the IP address contained therein is deleted after 7 days at the latest. An evaluation during this storage period only takes place in the event of an attack.

You have the right to object to the processing of your data in the context of server log files if there are reasons for this arising from your particular situation. If you wish to exercise your right to object, please contact us at the address given in section 8.

4.2 Consent management plattform

We use software from Usercentrics GmbH, Sendlinger Str. 7, 80331 Munich, Germany (hereinafter referred to as “Usercentrics”) to display our consent management platform (hereinafter referred to as “consent banner”). This sets technically necessary cookies in accordance with Section 25 (2) No. 2 TDDDG in order to query the consent status and thus to be able to play out corresponding content. In order to be able to track the respective actions carried out by the user (such as pressing individual buttons, accepting or rejecting some functions) within the cookie banner, we process the following personal data (please enter the date and time of the visit, device information, browser information, IP address, consent profile “all accepted”, “all rejected”, randomly generated identification number for the assignment of a terminal device to the consent profile) on the basis of our legal obligation pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c GDPR. Our legal obligations lie in the tracking of the actions carried out in each case as proof of the correct display and implementation of your preferences on our website and compliance with our accountability obligations in accordance with Art. 5 Para. 2 GDPR. The cookies are stored until you withdraw your consent. Both the consent status and the revocation status of your consent will be stored for a period of 3 years from the end of the year in which the consent was given and/or revoked. The retention is based on our accountability obligation pursuant to Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c in conjunction with Art. 5 para. 2 GDPR and the regular limitation periods. Furthermore, data processing is also carried out in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR in order to be able to prove the necessary declarations of consent in the event of legal disputes.

If you provide us with your cookiebot cookie (Usercentrics), we can provide you with information about the settings of your banner, provided you can confirm your authorization in this regard. Alternatively, you can also view the settings yourself at any time or adjust them for your respective device by clicking on “Manage cookies” at the bottom of the website.

4.3 Contact form, e-mail and telephone contact

On the website, you have the option of contacting AZ Direct via a contact form, an e-mail address or a telephone number. If you make use of this option, the data entered in the contact form, your e-mail address and/or your telephone number and your request will be transmitted to AZ Direct. Depending on the request (e.g. questions about AZ Direct products and services, assertion of your rights as a data subject, such as information), your contact data will be processed further (with the help of service providers). If necessary for the processing of your request, your contact data may be forwarded to third parties (e.g. partner companies).

The legal basis for the processing of your contact data is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR. The legitimate interests lie in the processing of your request and further communication. If your contact is aimed at concluding a contract with AZ Direct, the legal basis for the processing of your contact data is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR. The lawfulness of the processing of personal data transmitted to us for the purpose of inclusion in our advertising blacklist is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a and f GDPR.

After your request has been processed and further communication has ended, the contact data will be deleted. This does not apply if your contact is aimed at concluding a contract with AZ Direct or if you assert your rights as a data subject under the GDPR.

Our data protection information on data protection correspondence applies to the processing of your data in the context of data protection correspondence.

Your data will be stored until the contractual and/or legal obligations have been fulfilled and statutory retention periods do not prevent deletion.

You have the right to object to the processing of your contact data on grounds relating to your particular situation. If you wish to exercise your right to object, please contact us at the address given in section 8. If you object, the communication cannot be continued. This does not apply if the storage of your contact data is necessary for the initiation or fulfillment of a contract or the assertion of your rights as a data subject.

4.4 Newsletter

You can subscribe to a free newsletter on the website. Your registration for the newsletter takes place according to the so-called double opt-in procedure. After registration, we will send you an email with a link to confirm your newsletter registration. This process serves to prove that you are the owner of the e-mail address provided during registration and that you have consented to receiving the newsletter and the associated marketing initiatives in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR.

Alternatively, it is possible to subscribe to our newsletter in return for participating in a webinar or downloading a white paper in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR (see section 4.5).

You can subscribe to and unsubscribe from the newsletter and the newsletter is sent via the Brevo platform of Sendinblue GmbH. Your data will be processed in accordance with the data protection regulations of Brevo/Sendinblue GmbH.    

We store the logs obtained as part of the newsletter subscription on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR for legal defense and on the basis of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c GDPR in conjunction with Art. 5 para. 2 GDPR for verification purposes for the duration of the newsletter subscription.

We would like to point out that AZ Direct evaluates your user behavior in relation to the newsletter. For this evaluation, the emails sent contain so-called web beacons, which enable AZ to determine when the newsletter was opened (open rate) and which links contained in the newsletter were clicked on (click rate).

If you receive the newsletter on the basis of your consent, you can revoke the receipt of the newsletter and the associated marketing initiatives at any time with effect for the future by clicking on the unsubscribe link in an AZ Direct newsletter, informing AZ Direct of your revocation at az(at)bertelsmann.de, subject “Newsletter revocation” or using the other contact options under section 8.

If you subscribe to the newsletter in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b and do not want your newsletter usage to be evaluated in this way, or if you no longer wish to receive the newsletter, you can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time via the unsubscribe link contained in each newsletter or use the aforementioned contact options for this purpose.

4.4 Google Tag Manager

Google Tag Manager is a solution from Google Ireland Limited, Building Gordon House, 4 Barrow St, Dublin, D04 E5W5, Ireland, which allows companies to manage website functions via a user interface. Google Tag Manager is a cookie-less technology that can be used to perform other technical functions when a certain event occurs, for example when you give or revoke consent for a certain service. The tag manager itself only processes system-related data such as the IP address, browser version or screen resolution, but does not create any user profiles, store any cookies or carry out any independent analyses. It is only used to manage and display the functions and resources integrated via it.

For our Google products, we use so-called global site tags so that we do not have to integrate Google via a corresponding script on every subpage, but Google is automatically delivered as an application in the tag every time the page is called up.

The legal basis for the processing is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. GDPR. As a website operator, AZ Direct has a legitimate interest in the efficient integration and management of functions. All functions set by the Google Tag Manager are based on your consent, which you may have given in our consent banner. Only if you have given your consent will the tracking tools of the service providers be loaded and data processed or stored by the corresponding service provider.

4.5 Web tracking

Web analysis is carried out if you have given us your consent via our consent banner in accordance with Section 25 (1) TDDDG that information may be stored in your end device or that information may be accessed in your device and the subsequent data processing is based on Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR or if you have given us your consent in this regard in accordance with Section 25 (1) TDDDG and the subsequent processing of personal data in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR. For web analysis, we use the analysis tools listed in this section to optimize the user-friendliness of our website and to enable us to measure the reach of the website. In this way, we learn, for example, which offers and content are particularly popular, how long and at what times our website is accessed particularly frequently, from which regions our offers are accessed and which browsers and devices our users use.

You can change the use of your access data described below at any time and revoke the use of data that is not technically necessary by selecting our consent banner via the “Manage cookies” item at the bottom left and selecting your preferred setting in this regard.

The web tracking services are generally provided by service providers who process the data only in accordance with the instructions of the controller and not for their own purposes as so-called processors, otherwise we will point this out separately.

The website's web tracking service is described in more detail below.

4.5.1 Google Analytics

We use “Google Analytics” on our website, a web analytics service provided by Google Ireland Limited, Building Gordon House 4, Barrow St. Dublin, D04 E5W5 Ireland. Google Analytics uses so-called tracking pixels and cookies to provide the service, which enable website usage to be analyzed. The information generated by a cookie about your use of this website is usually transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there. In this regard, we would like to point out that Google is certified in accordance with the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, an adequacy decision within the meaning of Art. 45 GDPR. We have activated IP anonymization, which means that your IP address will be shortened beforehand within the member states of the European Union or in other contracting states of the Agreement on the European Economic Area.

Google will use this information on our behalf to evaluate the use of this website, to compile reports on website activity and to provide other services relating to website activity and internet usage.

The IP address transmitted by the browser as part of Google Analytics will not be merged with other Google data.

Please note that on this website Google Analytics has been extended by the code “anonymizeIp” to ensure an anonymized collection of IP addresses (so-called IP masking).

The legal basis for the processing is your consent in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR in conjunction with. § 25 para. 1 TDDDG. You can revoke your consent at any time with effect for the future by selecting and adjusting your preferred setting in our consent banner for your respective device under “Manage cookies”.

You can install a browser add to deactivate Google Analytics at any time with effect for the future. You can find this and more information on the Google website here.

4.6 Online advertising

The website contains services that are used for online advertising. Your access data (see section 2) is recorded and, with the help of advertising cookies or third-party advertising cookies (see section 3), usage behavior is evaluated and own or third-party advertising is displayed. Personal identification is generally not required for online advertising, so that when your access data is collected, the stored IP address is either not used or only used in abbreviated form and pseudonymous user profiles are created. These are not merged with other data and you have the option to withdraw your consent at any time. Personal user profiles are only created in exceptional cases and if you have given your consent.

Online advertising can be managed locally or across multiple providers. If online advertising is managed across multiple providers, advertising networks act as intermediaries between advertisers and advertisers. The advertising networks record the user profiles and derive the corresponding interests in order to place individual advertising on the next website visit. Depending on the activity of the respective advertising network, they act as a service provider subject to instructions and AZ Direct concludes an AV contract.

Exclude from tracking.

5. Who receives my data?

If we use service providers other than those mentioned in this privacy policy to operate this website (processors, e.g. data centers, technical service providers), they will only have access to your data to the extent and for the period of time required to provide the respective service.

Data will only be passed on to other recipients such as advertising partners, providers of social media services (so-called “third parties”) if this is required by law or if you have consented to this. Further information on the transfer of data to the respective third party can be found in the individual purposes in section 4. 

6. Is my data processed outside of the EU or EEA (third-country transfer)?

If these service providers process your data outside the European Union, this may result in your data being transferred to a country that does not guarantee the same level of data protection as the European Union. In this case, we ensure that the service providers contractually or otherwise guarantee an equivalent level of data protection. You can request a copy of these guarantees using the contact details provided in section 8.

7. What data protection rights do I have?

In accordance with the statutory provisions, you have the following rights in relation to the processing of your personal data:

• Right of access (Art. 15 GDPR)
• Right to rectification (Art. 16 GDPR)
• Right to erasure (Art. 17 GDPR)
• Right to restriction of processing (Art. 18 GDPR)
• Right to data portability (Art. 20 GDPR)
• If your data is processed on the basis of a legitimate interest in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR or for direct marketing purposes, you have the right to object to the processing of data for these purposes (Art. 21 GDPR).
• If you have given us your consent, you have the right to withdraw this consent (Art. 7 para. 3 GDPR). The withdrawal of consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.
• You have the right to complain about us to a data protection authority. The authority responsible for AZ Direct is the State Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information of North Rhine-Westphalia, Kavalleriestr. 2-4, 40213 Düsseldorf. However, you can also contact the data protection authority responsible for your place of residence.

If you wish to exercise your rights, in particular your rights of revocation and objection, or if you have general questions about data protection in relation to our website, our newsletter or our services, you can contact AZ Direct GmbH, Datenschutz, Carl-Bertelsmann Str. 161s, 33311 Gütersloh, Germany or datenschutz(at)az-direct.com at any time.

8. To what extent do you use automated processes to make decisions?

We do not use fully automated decision-making for the purposes mentioned in section 4.

9. Do you profile?

We do not use profiling for the purposes mentioned in section 4.

10. Conclusion/version information

This data protection notice can be accessed and printed out at any time via the link Data Protection Website. As changes to the law or changes to our internal company processes may make it necessary to adapt this data protection notice, which we reserve the right to do accordingly, we ask you to check this data protection notice regularly. The latest version of the Privacy Policy is available here:

Last updated: July 2024