Privacy Policy

In this Privacy Policy we are informing you of the way in which your personal data are processed when you use our website https://www.great-towers.com/.

Personal data means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. They include particularly all information making it possible to conclude your identity, for instance your name, telephone number, address or e-mail address. Statistical data, which we collect for example when someone visits our website, do not fall under the meaning of personal data.

You can print out this Data Protection Notice or save it by using your browser’s usual functions.

The personal contact and so-called Controller for the processing of your personal data when you visit this website is  Jean-Yves Ghazi, Deputy Executive Director, World Federation of Great Tower, PO Box 11278 Chicago, IL 60611 United States of America.

Court of registration: Chicago, Illinois

Competent supervisory authority: executive director Jean-Yves Ghazi and board of executive committee as published on the website Person responsible for the content in accordance with Article 55 (2) of the German Broadcasting Treaty [Rundfunkstaatsvertrag]: Jean-Yves Ghazi.

This legal notice applies to this website and to our social media profiles at www.facebook.com/greattowers and www.twitter.com/great_towers.

Data processing on our website

Every time our website is used, we collect the accessing data data which your browser automatically transmits to make your visit to the website possible. These access data comprise in particular: IP address of enquiring device; date and time of enquiry; address of the website called up and of the website enquiring; information on the browser and operating system used; online identifiers (e.g. device identifiers, session IDs).

Processing of these accessing data is necessary in order to make the visit to the website possible and to ensure the permanent functionality and security of our systems. These data are in addition saved for the foregoing purposes in internal logfiles, in order to develop our website further with regard to the usage patterns of our visitors (e.g. if the proportion of mobile devices on which the pages are called up rises) and in order to administer our website in a general way. The legal basis is Art. 6, Paragraph 1, Clause 1, Point (b) of the GDPR (European General Data Processing Regulation).

The information saved in the logfiles allows no direct conclusion to be drawn about you as a person – in particular, we save the IP addresses only in abbreviated, anonymised form. The logfiles are saved for 30 days and archived following subsequent anonymisation.

For a part of our service it is necessary for us to insert cookies. A cookie is a small text file which is saved by your browser on your device. Cookies are not inserted to execute programs or to load viruses into your computer. Instead the main purpose of cookies is to provide a product or service especially tailored to yourself and to make use of our services as time-saving as possible.

1.1 Use of our own cookies

Some of our services require us to use what are known as cookies. A cookie is a small text file which is saved by your browser on your device. Cookies are not used to execute programs or to load viruses into your computer. The main purpose of cookies is rather to provide an offer tailored to your needs and to make use of our services as time-saving as possible.
We use our own cookies in particular

  • - For log-in identification;
  • - For load distribution;
  • - To store your language settings;

We do this to be able to make your use of our website more convenient and more personalized. These services are needed to provide our services to you. For European users, the legal basis for this is Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR.

We further use cookies and similar technologies (e.g. web beacons) from partners for analytical and marketing purposes. This is described in more detail in the following sections.

1.2 Setting of cookies for analytical purposes

To improve our website, we use cookies and comparable technologies (e.g. web beacons) for the statistical recording and analysis of general usage patterns, using access data.

For European users, the legal basis for the data processing described in the following section is your consent as in Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR. You can withdraw this consent at any time and without naming a reason. For more information about the withdrawal please see the section “Right of revocation and objection” of this Privacy Policy.

To withdrawal or update your cookie-settings, you can also follow this link.

1.2.1 Google Analytic

This website uses Google Analytics, a web-analysis service of Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA (“Google”). According to Google the contact person for all data protection topics is Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. Google Analytics uses cookies and similar technologies to analyse and improve our website on the basis of your usage pattern. The data accrued in this context may be transmitted by Google for analysis to a server in the USA and stored there. Your IP address will be abbreviated prior to the analysis of usage statistics, however, so that no conclusions can be drawn about your identity. For this purpose, Google Analytics has been extended on our website to include the code “anonymizeIP”, in order to guarantee an anonymised capture of IP addresses.

Google will process the information so gained in order to evaluate your use of the website, to assemble reports on the website activities for the website operators, and to supply further services connected with website use and internet use. You can find more information about Google Analytics in Google’s privacy statement and in the Google Analytics privacy policy.

1.3 Use of cookies and comparable technologies for online advertising

We also use cookies and comparable technologies for advertising purposes. Some of the access data accrued during the use of our website are used for interest-based advertising. By analysing and evaluating these access data we are able to display personalised advertising to you on our website and on the websites of other providers. That means advertising which reflects your actual interests and needs.

For European users, the legal basis for the data processes described in the following section is your consent as in Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR. This consent can be withdrawn at any time and without naming a reason. For more information about the withdrawal please see the section “Right of revocation and objection” of this Privacy Policy.

To withdrawal or update your cookie-settings, you can also follow this link.

1.3.1 Twitter Button

This website uses "Twitter Button", a service provided by Twitter International Company, One Cumberland Place, Fenian Street, Dublin 2, D02 AX07 Ireland ("Twitter"). Twitter Button stores and processes information about your user behaviour on our website by the use of cookies.

We use Twitter Button for marketing and optimisation purposes, in particular to analyse the use of our website and to be able to continuously improve individual functions and offers as well as the user experience. By statistically evaluating user behaviour, we can improve our offer and make it more interesting for you as a user.

The data used processed for these purposes could be transmitted and stored on server based in the USA by Twitter. For more information on data transfer to third countries, please visit the respective part of this Privacy Policy.

More detailed information about data privacy at Twitter can be found in the Privacy Policy.

1.3.2 Twitter Syndication

This website also uses the service "Twitter Syndication", provided by Twitter International Company, One Cumberland Place, Fenian Street, Dublin 2, D02 AX07 Ireland ("Twitter"). Twitter Syndication stores and processes information about your user behaviour on our website. Twitter Syndication uses cookies, i.e. small text files that are stored locally in the cache of your web browser on your end device and which enable an analysis of your use of our website.

We use Twitter Syndication for marketing and optimisation purposes, in particular to analyse the use of our website and to be able to continuously improve individual functions and offers as well as the user experience. By statistically evaluating user behaviour, we can improve our offer and make it more interesting for you as a user.

The data used processed for these purposes could be transmitted and stored on server based in the USA by Twitter. For more information on data transfer to third countries, please visit the respective part of this Privacy Policy

More detailed information about data privacy at Twitter can be found in the Privacy Policy.

1.4 Social Media

We maintain online presences in social networks to communicate with customers and interested parties and to inform them about our products and services.

User data is generally processed for market research and advertising purposes. In this way, user profiles can be created based on the interests of the users. For this purpose, cookies and other identifiers will be stored on the users' computers. Based on these user profiles, advertisements are then placed, for example, within social networks but also on third-party websites.

The legal basis for data processing carried out by the social networks on their own responsibility can be found in the data protection information of the respective social network. The following links will also provide you with further information on the respective data processing as well as the possibilities of objection.

We would like to point out that data protection requests can be made most efficiently with the respective provider of the social network, as only these providers have access to the data and can take appropriate measures directly.

1.4.1 Facebook Connect

Our website enables you to register on the website by using your existing Facebook profile data. For this purpose we use Facebook Connect, a service of Facebook Inc., 1601 Willow Road, Menlo Park, California, 94025, USA ("Facebook"). As soon as you have registered by using Facebook Connect, no additional registration is needed.

Should you wish to use this function, you will first be transferred to Facebook. There you will be asked to register, using your username and password. Naturally we do not take any cognizance of your registration data. If you are already registered with Facebook, this stage is skipped. Next your e-mail address and your open profile information (particularly name, profile picture, date of birth, sex, language and country, list of friends and “Likes”) are transmitted to us when you confirm the operation with the “Log in with Facebook” button. For more information on data transfer to third countries, please visit the respective part of this Privacy Policy . For European users, the legal basis is Art. 6 (1) (b) GDPR.

You will find more detailed information on this matter in Facebook’s Privacy Statement.

Google Tag Manager

Our website uses Google Tag-Manager, a service that is provided to users from the European Economic Area, Switzerland and Liechtenstein by Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Irland and for all other users by Google LLC 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway Mountain View, CA 94043, USA (together "Google"). Tag Manager serves to administrate tracking tools and further services, so-called website tags. A tag is an element placed in our website’s source code, in order for instance to capture predetermined usage data. Google Tag Manager operates without the use of cookies. Google Tag Manager ensures that the usage data required by our partners (Cf. the data-processing operations set out above) are passed on to them. Some of the data are processed on a Google server in the USA. For more information on data transfer to third countries, please visit the respective part of this Privacy Policy For European users, the legal basis for the use of the Google Tag Manager is Art. 6 (1) (f) of the GDPR, based on our legitimate interest in incorporating and managing a number of tags in an uncomplicated way on our website.

You will find more detailed information in Google’s Tag Manager overview.

Further transmission may also be made in connection with requests by government authorities, decisions of the courts and legal proceedings if it is necessary for prosecution or execution at law.

Google Tag Manager

Data which we have collected are passed on only if: (i) You have given an express declaration of consent for this, pursuant to Art. 6, Paragraph 1, Clause 1, Point (a) of the GDPR; (ii) further transmission is necessary, pursuant to Art. 6, Paragraph 1, Clause 1, Point (f) of the GDPR, for bringing, exercising or defending legal claims, and no reason exists to suppose that you have a predominant and properly protected interest in preventing your data from being passed on; (iii) we have a legal duty to pass on your data pursuant to Art. 6, Paragraph 1, Clause 1, Point (c) of the GDPR; or (iv) This is legally permissible and requisite, pursuant to Art. 6, Paragraph 1, Clause 1, Point (b) of the GDPR, for the handling of contracts with yourself or for the execution of precontractual actions which are being carried out at your request.

A part of the data processing can be handled via service providers. Along with the service providers stated in this Data Protection Notice, these may include in particular computer centres which store our website and databases, IT service providers which maintain our systems, and consultancy firms. Should we pass data on to our service providers, these data may only be used for performance of their tasks. We select and commission these service providers carefully. They are bound contractually to follow our instructions, have suitable technical and organisational measures for the protection of the rights of data subjects, and are monitored by ourselves on a regular basis.

Data Transfer to Third Countries

As explained in this privacy policy, we use services whose providers are partly located in so-called third countries (such as the USA), i.e. countries whose data protection level does not correspond to that of the European Union. Insofar as this is the case and the European Commission has not issued an adequacy decision (Art. 45 GDPR) for these countries, we have taken appropriate measures to ensure an adequate level of data protection for any data transfers. These include the standard contractual clauses of the European Union or binding internal data protection regulations.

Where this is not possible, we base the transfer of data on exceptions of Art. 49 GDPR, in particular your explicit consent or the necessity of the transfer for the fulfilment of the contract. If a transfer to a third country is intended and no adequacy decision or appropriate safeguards are in place, it is possible and there is a risk that authorities in the respective third country (e.g. intelligence agencies) may be able to gain access to the transferred data in order to record and analyse it, and that the enforceability of your data subject rights cannot be guaranteed. You will also be informed of this when you give your consent via the cookie banner.

Duration of storage

We store personal data only for as long as is necessary to fulfil contractual or statutory duties for which the data were collected. We then erase the data immediately unless we still need these data until expiry of the statutory period of limitation for purposes of evidence in civil claims or due to statutory duties of storage.

For purposes of evidence we must still store contact data for three years from the end of the year in which business relations with you end. Any claims will expire, under the normal statutory period of limitation, no earlier than at this time.

Thereafter we must also store some of your data for purposes of book-keeping. We have an obligation to do so under statutory duties of documentation which may arise under the German Commercial Code, the German Tax Code, the German Credit and Loans Act, the German Money Laundering Act, and the German Securities Act. The periods stipulated there for storage of documents are two to ten years.

User rights

You have the right at any time to require us to provide information about the processing of your personal data (right of access). When providing you with this information we shall explain the data processing and supply an overview of the data relating to your person which are stored. Should data stored with us be inaccurate or no longer up-to-date, you enjoy the right to have these data corrected (right to rectification). You can also require the erasure of your data (right to erasure or right to be forgotten). Should the erasure exceptionally not be possible due to other legal regulations, the data processing will be restricted, so that in future they are only available for this statutory purpose. You can also have the processing of your data restricted, i.e. if you believe that the data which we have saved are not correct (right to restriction of processing). You also have the right of data portability, i.e. that we send you on request a digital copy of the personal data which you have provided (right to data portability).

To exercise your rights as set out here, you can communicate with the foregoing contact details at any time. This also applies should you wish to receive copies of guarantees for certification of an adequate data-protection level.

You also have the right to object to the data processing based on Art. 6, para., lit. e or f of the GDPR. Finally, you have the right to complain to the regulatory authority to which we are subject. You can exercise this right at a regulatory authority in the member country of your place of residence, of your workplace, or of the place of alleged breach.

Right of revocation and objection

Under Article 7, para. 3 of the GDPR you have the right at any time to withdraw to us any consent which has once been given. This will have as a consequence that in future we no longer continue the data processing based on this consent. The withdrawal of consent shall not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.

Insofar as we process your data on the basis of legitimate interests under Art. 6, para. 1, lit. f GDPR, you have the right under Art. 21 GDPR to object to the processing of your data and to mention grounds relating to your particular situation that in your opinion speak in favour of prevailing legitimate interests. Where personal data are processed for direct marketing purposes, you have a general right of objection which will also be implemented by us without your stating reasons.

If you wish to make use of your right to withdraw or object, a notification without set form to the contact details above will be sufficient.

Amendments to Data Protection Notice

We occasionally update this Data Protection Notice, for instance when we revise our website or statutory or official regulations change.

© The World Federation of Great Towers – Version 1.0 (June 2018)