At PROFINET University, we respect your privacy. We want to ensure that you get the information, content, and experiences that matter most to you. PROFINET University is committed to protecting the privacy of its users.
Scope
This privacy policy applies to all personal data (in this privacy policy also referred to as personal information) processed by full-time and part-time employees, volunteers when acting on behalf of PROFINET University, contractors and partners doing business on behalf of PROFINET University, as well as all legal entities, all operating locations in all countries, and all business processes conducted by PROFINET University.
Information Collected
What information do we collect?
PROFINET University collects the following personal data in line with the use purposes explained in a subsequent section:
- Information on files downloaded from the PROFINET University website;
- Information collected by cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy;
- Location information;
- Other information you upload or provide to us.
You are not obliged to provide your personal data to us. However, in some cases it might be necessary that you provide your personal data to us to enter into a contract with us or to use some of our services
How do we use your information and what are the legal bases?
PROFINET University uses (and, where specified, shares) your personal information for the following purposes and on the following legal bases:
To provide online forums and social networks.Some services available on the website permit you to participate in interactive discussions, post comments, opportunities, or other content to a bulletin board or exchange, or otherwise engage in networking activities. Some of these services are moderated; all may be accessed for technical reasons (for example, for improvements or fixes). PROFINET University does not control the content that users post to these forums or social networks. You should carefully consider whether you wish to submit personal information to these forums or social networks and tailor any content you submit appropriately and in accordance with the relevant terms of use. You should also review any additional terms and conditions that may govern your use of these services, including terms related to sharing your personal information and receiving communications. As far as we process any of your data for these purposes it is for our legitimate interest to stay in contact with you.
To select content, improve quality, and facilitate use of the website.PROFINET University uses your personal information, including the information gathered as a result of site navigation and electronic protocols and cookies (including third-party cookies), to help create and personalize website content, improve website quality, track marketing campaign responsiveness, evaluate page response rates, conduct usability testing, and facilitate your use of the website (for example, to facilitate navigation, avoid duplicate data entry, and enhance security). This supports our legitimate interest to strengthen our relationship with you and further develop our business.
To serve personalized advertising to you.We don’t share your information with advertisers without your consent. We allow advertisers to choose the characteristics of users who will see their advertisements, and we may use any of the non-personally-identifiable attributes we have collected to select the appropriate audience for those advertisements. When you click on or otherwise interact with an advertisement, there is a possibility that the advertiser may place a cookie in your browser and that your attributes meet the criteria the advertiser selected.
To engage with third parties.PROFINET University may share your personal data with third parties in connection with services that these individuals or entities perform for or with PROFINET University. These third parties are restricted from using this data in any way other than to provide services for PROFINET University or for the collaboration in which they and PROFINET University are contractually engaged (for example, hosting a PROFINET University database or engaging in data processing on PROFINET University’s behalf, or mailing you information that you requested). These third parties are carefully selected by PROFINET University and obligated to keep your data secure. When we share your data for these purposes this is for our legitimate interest to receive certain services which are useful to us.
To protect PROFINET University content and services.We may use your information to prevent potentially illegal activities and to enforce our terms and conditions. We also use a variety of technological systems to detect and address anomalous activity and to screen content to prevent abuse, such as spam. These efforts may, on occasion, result in a temporary or permanent suspension or termination of some functions for some users. Such processing of your data is for our legitimate interest to prevent our partners and our products and services from harm through any criminal actions.
To get feedback or input from you.In order to deliver products and services of most interest to our users, from time to time, we may ask users, volunteers, and website visitors to provide us input and feedback (for example through surveys, usability studies, focus groups) which is for our legitimate interest to improve our products and services.
How will you know if the Privacy Policy is changed?
PROFINET University updates its Privacy Policy from time to time. We encourage you to periodically review this page for the latest information on our privacy practices.
Technical and Regulatory Information
Logging practices
PROFINET University automatically records the Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of visitors. The IP address is a unique number assigned to every computer on the internet. Generally, an IP address changes each time you connect to the internet (it is a “dynamic” address). Note, however, that if you have a broadband connection, depending on your individual circumstance, the IP address that we collect may contain information that could be deemed identifiable. This is because, with some broadband connections, your IP address doesn’t change (it is “static”) and could be associated with your personal computer and even dynamic IP addresses could be related to you in certain circumstances.
As well as recording the IP addresses of users, PROFINET University may also keep track of sites that users visited immediately prior to visiting the PROFINET University website and the search terms they used to find it. We keep track of the pages visited on the PROFINET University website, the amount of time spent on those pages and the types of searches done on them. Your searches remain confidential. PROFINET University uses this information only for statistical purposes to find out which pages users find most useful and to improve the website.
PROFINET University also captures and stores information that you transmit. This includes:
- Browser/Device type/version
- Operating system used
- Media Access Control (MAC) address
- Date and time of the server request
- Volume of data transferred
External links behavior
Some pages of PROFINET University’s website link to other sites created and maintained by other public- and/or private-sector organizations. PROFINET University provides these links solely for your information and convenience. When you transfer to an outside website, you are leaving the PROFINET University domain, and PROFINET University’s privacy policies no longer apply. PROFINET University encourages you to read the privacy statement of each external website that you visit before you provide any personal data.
Cookies and web beacons
Cookies and web beacons are electronic placeholders that are placed on your device by websites to track your individual movements on that website over time. PROFINET University uses both session-based cookies (which last only for the duration of the user’s session) and persistent cookies (which remain on your device and provides information about the session you are in and waits for the next time you use that site again). You will be asked to agree to the cookie policy and consent to the use of cookies before you can use the PROFINET University website.
These cookies and web beacons provide useful information to PROFINET University, enabling us to recognize repeat users, facilitate the user’s access to and use of our sites, allows us to track usage behavior, and to balance the usage of our websites on all PROFINET University web servers.
Tracking cookies, third-party cookies, and other technologies such as web beacons may be used to process additional information, enable non-core functionalities on the PROFINET University website and enable third-party functions (such as a embedded video). We may also include web beacons and other similar technology in promotional email messages to determine whether the messages have been opened.
Do Not Track (DNT)
The online advertising industry has self-regulatory initiatives designed to provide consumers a choice in the types of ads they may see online and to conveniently opt-out from online behavioral ads served by some or all of the companies participating in these programs. Our websites do not respond to DNT consumer browser settings.
Collaboration with authorities
PROFINET University will investigate complaints, report data breaches and coordinate with the appropriate regulatory authorities when required. Privacy related questions, complaints or other issues can be sent to PROFINET University via its Contact page.
Transfer of information to other countries
As a global organization, PROFINET University engages in a number of international activities. In connection with the management of those activities, PROFINET University may transfer, store and process information to other countries. Such countries may have lower legal standards for protection of personal data than the country of your residence. If personal data is collected from EU residents and transferred to countries outside the EU/EEA we have implemented appropriate safeguards for these transfers to protect this data. PROFINET University regularly uses EU standard contractual clauses.
Responses to legal requests
PROFINET University reserves the right to share your information to respond to duly authorized information requests of governmental authorities or where required by law.
In the event of bankruptcy, merger, acquisition, reorganization or sale of assets, your information may be sold or transferred as part of that transaction. The promises in this privacy policy will apply to your information as transferred to the new entity.
Your European Union privacy rights
Under the General Data Protection Regulation (Regulation EU 2016/679) (also known as GDPR), if you are an individual protected by the GDPR, such as an EU resident, you have certain rights as a data subject: You have the right to request access to and rectification or erasure of personal data or restriction of processing concerning the data subject or to object to processing as well as the right to data portability. If the processing of your personal data is based on consent you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time, without affecting the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority.
To request information about or avail yourself of those rights, please contact us via our Contact page with “GDPR Request” in the subject line. In the email please describe, with specificity, the GDPR right you are requesting assistance with. Please note additional information may be requested prior to initiation of a request and that PROFINET University reserves the right to charge a fee with respect to certain requests. However, generally any requests are free of charge. Upon PROFINET University’ completion of its review you will be notified if your request has been granted, denied, or exemptions apply.
How do I contact you if there is an issue?
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or about the use of your personal information, please feel free to contact us via the form on our Contact page.