Privacy Policy

At the German Academy of Aesthetic Medicine & Anatomy (GAAMA®), data protection is a top priority. The use of our website is generally possible without registration. If a person wishes to use special services or offers from our practice via the website, the processing of personal data may become necessary. If the processing of personal data is required and there is no legal basis for such processing, we generally obtain the consent of the data subject.

The processing of personal data, such as the name, address, email address or telephone number of a data subject, always takes place in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (DS-GVO) and in compliance with the country-specific data protection regulations applicable to our company. With this privacy policy, we aim to inform the public about the nature, scope, and purpose of the personal data we collect, use, and process. In addition, data subjects are informed of their rights by means of this privacy policy.

The website of our practice takes numerous measures to ensure secure protection of our customers' data. Nevertheless, internet-based data transmissions can have security gaps, meaning absolute protection cannot be guaranteed. For this reason, every data subject is free to transmit their data to us by alternative means, for example by telephone.

**1. Definitions**

This privacy policy is based on the terminology used by the European legislator when issuing the General Data Protection Regulation (DS-GVO). Our privacy policy should be easy to read and understandable for the public as well as for our customers and business partners. To ensure this, we would like to explain the terminology used in advance.

We use the following terms, among others, in this privacy policy:

**Personal data**

Personal data means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (hereinafter "data subject"). An identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person.

**Data subject**

A data subject is any identified or identifiable natural person whose personal data is processed by the controller.

**Processing**

Processing is any operation or set of operations which is performed on personal data, whether or not by automated means, such as collection, recording, organisation, structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or otherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure or destruction.

**Restriction of processing**

Restriction of processing is the marking of stored personal data with the aim of limiting their processing in the future.

**Profiling**

Profiling means any form of automated processing of personal data consisting of the use of personal data to evaluate certain personal aspects relating to a natural person, in particular to analyse or predict aspects concerning that natural person's performance at work, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behaviour, location or movements.

**Pseudonymisation**

Pseudonymisation is the processing of personal data in such a way that the personal data can no longer be attributed to a specific data subject without the use of additional information, provided that such additional information is kept separately and is subject to technical and organisational measures to ensure that the personal data are not attributed to an identified or identifiable natural person.

**Controller or controller responsible for the processing**

The controller or controller responsible for the processing is the natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of personal data. Where the purposes and means of such processing are determined by Union or Member State law, the controller or the specific criteria for its nomination may be provided for by Union or Member State law.

**Processor**

Processor means a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which processes personal data on behalf of the controller.

**Recipient**

Recipient means a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or another body, to which the personal data are disclosed, whether a third party or not. However, public authorities which may receive personal data in the framework of a particular inquiry in accordance with Union or Member State law shall not be regarded as recipients.

**Third party**

Third party means a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or body other than the data subject, controller, processor and persons who, under the direct authority of the controller or processor, are authorised to process personal data.

**Consent**

Consent is any freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous indication of the data subject's wishes by which he or she, by a statement or by a clear affirmative action, signifies agreement to the processing of personal data relating to him or her.

**2. Name and address of the controller**

Controller within the meaning of the General Data Protection Regulation, other data protection laws applicable in the Member States of the European Union and other provisions with data protection character is:

Dr. med. Zhixiong Chang, Director of German Academy of Aesthetic Medicine & Anatomy, Speditionstraße 6, 40221 Düsseldorf, Germany

www.gaama.org

info@gaama.org

**3. Name and address of the data protection officer**

Dr. med. Zhixiong Chang, Director of German Academy of Aesthetic Medicine & Anatomy, Speditionstraße 6, 40221 Düsseldorf, Germany

www.gaama.org

info@gaama.org

Any data subject may, at any time, contact our data protection officer directly with all questions and suggestions concerning data protection.

**4. Collection of general data and information**

The website www.gaama.org collects a series of general data and information each time a data subject or automated system accesses the website. These general data and information are stored in the server’s log files. The data collected may include (1) the browser types and versions used, (2) the operating system used by the accessing system, (3) the website from which an accessing system reaches our website (so-called referrer), (4) the sub-websites that are accessed via an accessing system on our website, (5) the date and time of access to the website, (6) an Internet Protocol address (IP address), (7) the Internet service provider of the accessing system, and (8) other similar data and information that may be used in the event of attacks on our IT systems.

When using this general data and information, we do not draw any conclusions about the data subject. Rather, this information is needed to (1) correctly deliver the contents of our website, (2) optimize the content of our website and its advertising, (3) ensure the long-term viability of our IT systems and website technology, and (4) provide law enforcement authorities with the information necessary for criminal prosecution in case of a cyber-attack. Therefore, the anonymously collected data and information are evaluated statistically and with the aim of increasing data protection and data security in our company, in order to ensure an optimal level of protection for the personal data we process. The anonymous data of the server log files are stored separately from all personal data provided by a data subject.

**5. Registration on our website**

The data subject has the option to register on the controller's website by providing personal data. The specific personal data transmitted to the controller is determined by the respective input form used for registration. The personal data entered by the data subject is collected and stored exclusively for internal use by the controller and for their own purposes. The controller may arrange for the transfer of data to one or more processors, such as a parcel service, who also uses the personal data exclusively for internal use attributable to the controller.

By registering on the website, the IP address assigned by the Internet service provider (ISP) of the data subject, the date, and the time of registration are also stored. The storage of this data is necessary to prevent the misuse of our services and, if necessary, to enable the investigation of committed offenses. In this respect, the storage of this data is required to safeguard the controller. This data is not passed on to third parties unless there is a legal obligation to do so or the data is used for criminal prosecution.

The registration of the data subject, with the voluntary provision of personal data, is intended to enable the controller to offer content or services that may only be offered to registered users due to the nature of the matter. Registered persons are free to change the personal data provided during registration at any time or to have them completely deleted from the controller's database.

The controller shall, at any time upon request, provide information to each data subject about which personal data about the data subject is stored. Furthermore, the controller shall correct or delete personal data at the request or indication of the data subject, provided that this does not conflict with any statutory retention obligations. All of the controller’s employees are available to the data subject in this context as contact persons.

**6. Contact option via the website**

Due to legal requirements, our website contains information that enables quick electronic contact with our company as well as direct communication with us, which also includes a general address of electronic mail (email address). If a data subject contacts the controller by email or via a contact form, the personal data transmitted by the data subject is automatically stored. Such personal data transmitted on a voluntary basis by a data subject to the controller is stored for the purpose of processing or contacting the data subject. There is no disclosure of this personal data to third parties.

**7. Rights of the data subject**

Right to confirmation
Right to access
Right to rectification
Right to erasure (right to be forgotten)
Right to restriction of processing
Right to data portability
Right to object
Automated decisions in individual cases including profiling
Right to withdraw data protection consent

(Each of these rights is described fully and precisely, as per Articles 15–21 (DS-GVO). The data subject may exercise these rights at any time by contacting the controller.)

**8. Legal basis for processing**

The legal basis for processing operations includes:

Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) DS-GVO)
Contract performance (Art. 6(1)(b) DS-GVO)
Legal obligation (Art. 6(1)(c) DS-GVO)
Protection of vital interests (Art. 6(1)(d) DS-GVO)
Legitimate interests of the controller (Art. 6(1)(f) DS-GVO)

**9. Duration of storage of personal data**

The criterion for the storage duration of personal data is the respective statutory retention period. After expiry of that period, the corresponding data is routinely deleted if it is no longer required for the fulfillment of a contract or the initiation of a contract.

**10. Legal or contractual provisions for the provision of personal data; necessity for the conclusion of a contract; obligation of the data subject to provide the personal data; possible consequences of failure to provide such data**

We inform you that the provision of personal data is partly required by law (e.g., tax regulations) or may also result from contractual provisions (e.g., information on the contractual partner). Sometimes it may be necessary to conclude a contract that the data subject provides us with personal data, which must subsequently be processed by us. The data subject is, for example, obliged to provide us with personal data if our company concludes a contract with them. The non-provision of the personal data would have the consequence that the contract with the data subject could not be concluded. Before personal data is provided by the data subject, they must contact one of our employees. Our employee will clarify on a case-by-case basis whether the provision of the personal data is required by law or contract, or is necessary for the conclusion of the contract, whether there is an obligation to provide the personal data, and what the consequences of non-provision of the personal data would be.

**11. Existence of automated decision-making**

As a responsible company, we do not use automatic decision-making or profiling.

**12. Agreement on the use of photographs in accordance with the DS-GVO**

a) Controller within the meaning of Art. 4 No. 7 DS-GVO: Dr. med. Zhixiong Chang, Director of German Academy of Aesthetic Medicine & Anatomy, Speditionstraße 6, 40221 Düsseldorf, Germany, www.gaama.org , info@gaama.org

b) Scope of processing:

Representation of the person depicted
Location of the photo
Time of the photo
Possible naming, if expressly permitted

c) Purpose of processing:

For press and public relations as well as marketing purposes

d) Legal basis:

Consent under Art. 6(1)(a) DS-GVO
Legitimate interest under Art. 6(1)(f) DS-GVO for non-consensual cases

e) Duration of storage: The data will be deleted once the purpose of processing is no longer applicable or no longer needs to be retained for copyright protection purposes. Full removal of images from the internet cannot be guaranteed (e.g., cached by search engines or copied by third-party sites).

f) Rights of the depicted person:

Right to object to processing (Art. 21 DS-GVO)
Right of access (Art. 15 DS-GVO)
Right to rectification or erasure (Art. 16 & 17 DS-GVO)
Right to restrict processing (Art. 18 DS-GVO)
Right to data portability (Art. 20 DS-GVO)
Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority (Art. 77 DS-GVO)

All rights can be exercised by contacting the above-mentioned data controller.