Personal information is information that can be used to identify you. This includes information such as your name, postal or IP address (if not anonymized), telephone number, and e-mail address, but not information that is not associated with your identity (such as anonymous log files in which the used browser types are logged).

Data provided by you (e.g., data input via a web form) can be or contain personal data. We store your data only at your request and to the extent needed (for example, for registration for an event) or for data backup. The specific use of such data is indicated in the respective context.

When you view the web pages of the above-named website or one of its subdomains, a log file is automatically created and stored on the server. Such files contain the web page you visited, the previous website you visited just before ours (in case it was a search engine, also the terms entered), date, time, the operating system you are using, features of the display (resolution in pixels and the so-called pixel-ratio for the detection of high-resolution displays), and the browser you are using (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, etc.). Additionally, the size of the transferred data amount, a so-called HTTP status code (for example to identify a successfully transmitted web page), and the IP address of your computer (e.g., PC or smartphone) – whereby the IP address is immediately anonymized through deletion of the last octet of the address – are also stored.

The collection and use of information stored in the log file is only for anonymous evaluation for statistical purposes (for example, an analysis of user behavior, which pages of the website or subdomain are accessed, which browsers are used, etc.) and thereby to improve our services. A mapping of IP address to the user ID does not occur. It is not possible to trace the analysis results to a specific IP address.

The information processed as explained above (see points 1 and 2) is electronically collected and used by Freie Universität Berlin, the Center for Digital Systems (CeDiS) and stored centrally by Freie Universität Berlin's Hochschul-Rechenzentrum (ZEDAT).

The information is not disclosed to third parties or used outside of Freie Universität Berlin, unless you have given us your consent to do so or we are required or authorized by law to do so (for example, in relation to law enforcement, presumed plagiarism, or other copyright infringements).

Like other organizations, we use so-called cookies. Cookies are small files that are stored in special filed directories on your computer (unless you block them). Information about your visit to our website can be stored in cookies.

Our cookies do not contain personal data (such as IP addresses or login data), but rather only anonymous session IDs. Some of the cookies we use will remain on your computer so that our web server can recognize your computer the next time you visit. Most browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, etc.) are set by default to accept cookies. You can set your browser to reject cookies or request a confirmation from you.  However, if you disable or reject cookies, it is possible that you will not be able to use certain features of the website.

The legal basis for the processing of personal data using cookies is Article 6 (1) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Java and Javascript applications are used on the web pages of the above-named domain. You can set your browser – if necessary, by using free add-ons – to reject the execution of such applications or to request confirmation from you. If you reject these applications, it may be possible that you cannot use certain features of the website.

The Google Custom Search Engine (Google CSE) is integrated in the website of Freie Universität Berlin. In the header of each web page, there is a search box labeled “Search with Google™”. The integrated search service provides a full-text search for content of the official website of Freie Universität Berlin.

Users will readily notice the search box at the top of the website of Freie Universität that is labeled “Search with Google™.” If a user enters a keyword in the input field of the search box, an additional link will appear just below (“Information about Using Google Search™”), which refers to this privacy policy.

Activating the Search

Users can activate the search function by entering a search term in the search box and pressing "Enter" or the search icon (magnifying glass icon). Due to the plugin provided by Google, the search results page automatically reloads with the appropriate search results. During this process data are transferred to the search engine.

Users can choose between a search within the currently displayed domain or the entire website of Freie Universität Berlin.

Viewing the Results Page

The plugin that is developed and made available by Google (Google Custom Search Engine Google CSE) is integrated as-is by the operator of the official website of Freie Universität as a software module in the search results page. The plugin allows for automated communication (data exchange) between the retrieved search results page and the Google service, if the search results page is called up. The use of the Google-powered search function comprises a dynamic transfer of data by the service provider to the Google search results page.

Data Protection

Data are only transferred to the provider of the search engine (Google) after a user has accessed the search results page, after having activated the search box and thereby starting a full-text search. When using the search function within the search page results, data are simultaneously transmitted to Google.

No data are transmitted to the search engine (Google), when official websites of Freie Universität Berlin that incorporate the Google Search Engine are visited. An exception occurs when users directly reference a search results page.

Agree to Data Transfer by Using Google Custom Search Engine

By using the full-text search and the resulting request to view the search results page, you are agreeing to the transmission of data to Google. This includes, for example, the search terms you enter and the IP address of the computer you are using.

Please note that Google has different data protection standards than those applying to the website of Freie Universität Berlin. We explicitly point out that the operator of the website of Freie Universität Berlin has no influence over the processing of data, in particular, the storage, deletion, and exploitation of personal data that may be transmitted to the provider of the search engine. Both the nature and scope of data that may be transmitted are entirely up to the provider of the external service, in this case Google.

In case you are logged in to Google at the same time you are using the Google Search Engine on the website of Freie Universität, the Google service is able to directly associate the information it collected in connection with your search with your user profile on Google. To avoid further collection of profile information about you, we recommend that you log out of Google before using the Google Search Engine on our website.

For more information about Google’s privacy policy and how Google deals with user data, please visit: http://www.google.com/intl/policies/privacy.

Some of the web pages of the above-named domain use social media plugins, in particular the following:

• "Facebook-I-Like" or "Facebook-Gefällt-mir": operated by: Facebook Inc., 1601 S. California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94304, United States
• "Google+1”: operated by: Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States
•  "Twitter”: operated by: Twitter, Inc., 795 Folsom St., Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94107, United States

Social plugins are software modules that are developed and made available by the social media services. They can be installed on web pages as is, to enable an automated communication (data exchange) between the web page and the social media services in accordance with their respective policies. As part of this communication, data are transferred dynamically from a social media service to one of our web pages, for example. On the other hand, at the same time, data from the user viewing our web pages are transferred to the social media service (e.g., that of the user's computer IP address). You will notice the use of social plugins on certain web pages. We would like to give you some information about them:

2-Step Solution to Ensure Privacy

Without additional measures, the social plugins (see above) use technical means that ensure that when viewing, or even loading, the page connected by the plugin, data (including personal data) are exchanged between the original website and the social media service (here, Facebook, Google, or Twitter). In these cases, the user has no option to decline this exchange of data.

To protect users of our web pages from this type of exchange of data, which is not subject to influence, and the transmission of data to the respective social media service, we have incorporated an appropriate technical precaution. This two-step solution gives users the opportunity, even after loading the page connected by the plugin, to agree to the use of each social media service (and thus to exchange data with this social media service). The basic setting of the 2-step solution does not transmit data to the social media services. This option may be decided case by case or permanently. A decision can be subsequently revised again. If you do not want a social media service to collect information about you through our web site, do not activate that social media by clicking the social plugin.

To permanently agree to data exchange between the website of the above-named domain and the relevant social media service, which requires a cookie on our part (see above), you should click on the button that is labeled as follows:

In the dialog box that opens, you can enable the exchange of data between the web pages of the above-mentioned domain and the relevant social media service, and you can also revise this again later.

By clicking on one of the specially marked buttons (see "Using the social plug-ins"), you agree to the above-mentioned one-time data exchange between the respective web page domain and the relevant social media service.

Using the Social Plugins

You will recognize the use of the Facebook plugin on a web page or subdomain of the above-named site, when you see the following button:

You will recognize the use of the Google plugin on a web page or subdomain of the above-named site, when you see the following button:

You will recognize the use of the Twitter plugin on a web page or subdomain of the above-named site, when you see the following button:

By clicking on one of these buttons you agree to the use of this plugin and therefore the transfer of personal data to the respective social media service. We have no control over the nature and scope of these transmitted data as well as their further processing. According to our current state of knowledge, the relevant social media service is informed of your IP address and that of the web page using the plugin. If you are simultaneously logged in to a social media service platform, that social media service is able to directly assign the information to your user profile.

In order to avoid such a collection of profile information about you, you should log out of each social media service platform. Data such as the IP address of the computer you are using will be transmitted in any regard.

For more information from Facebook about how to deal with the appropriate plugin and the corresponding social media service, refer to: http://developers.facebook.com/plugins. For more information on Facebook about its data use policy, please visit: http://www.facebook.com/about/privacy .

For more information from Google about how to deal with the appropriate plugin and the corresponding social media service, refer to: http://support.google.com/plus/bin/answer.py?hl=de&answer=1319578&rd=1. For more information on Google about its privacy policy, please visit: http://www.google.com/intl/policies/privacy.

For more information from Twitter about how to deal with the appropriate plugin and the corresponding social media service, refer to: https://twitter.com/logo. For more information on Twitter about its data use policy, please visit: https://twitter.com/privacy.

The web pages of the above-named domain sometimes use external content from third-party providers. Integrating external content such as videos, presentations, news feeds, e.g., from social media services can enhance the content of a website. As with the use of social plugins (see point 7), data protection aspects need to be taken into consideration. For that reason, the above-described “two-step solution” is implemented for integrating content from third-party providers. You can recognize this type of content when you see the following box, for example, where Google Maps are integrated into the website.

Analogous to the use of social plugins (see point 7), the following also applies here: By clicking the link you agree to a one-time data exchange between the respective websites of the above-named domain and the relevant third party. Under the default setting, data are not transmitted to the provider of the external content. You can permanently activate data exchange between the pages of the above-named domain and the provider of the external content (example here: maps.google.de), and you can revise this decision again at any time.

On the above-named sites and subdomains, there are opportunities to subscribe to free newsletters or other free information available via email. If you sign up for such information, data from the registration form will be forwarded to the person responsible for the content. When you sign up, you will be requested to give your consent for forwarding the information.

The legal basis for processing the data after registering for a newsletter is, in the case of consent, Article 6 (1) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Your email address is required to deliver a newsletter. The email address of the user is stored as long as the subscription to the newsletter is active.

Subscriptions to newsletters or other information can be terminated at any time by the recipient. As a rule, you will usually find a link for this purpose in each newsletter. If you have further questions, feel free to contact the Central Online Editorial Department via email to webteam@fu-berlin.de.

Given the constantly occurring changes on the Internet, especially with regard to technology and also the relevant legislation, we reserve the right to amend our privacy policy from time to time, if needed. Such adjustments to our privacy policy will be posted on this page with an advance notice of two weeks, provided that the circumstances requiring the change permit this timeframe.

If you provide us with personal information (e.g., via web forms), you will find contact details on the same page where you can at no charge request information regarding which of your personal data are stored on our system. At your request, the information can also be provided electronically.