We are very delighted that you have shown interest in our Foundation. Data protection is of a particularly high priority for the executive board of GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences. If a data subject wants to use the foundation`s service via our website, a processing of personal data is necessary. If the processing of personal data is necessary and there is no statutory basis for such processing, we generally obtain consent from the data subject.

The processing of personal data, such as the name, address, e-mail address, or telephone number of a data subject shall always be in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and in accordance with the country-specific data protection regulations applicable to the GFZ. By means of this data protection declaration, our Institute would like to inform the general public of the nature, scope, and purpose of the personal data we collect, use and process. Furthermore, data subjects are informed, by means of this data protection declaration, of the rights to which they are entitled.

As the controller, the GFZ has implemented numerous technical and organizational measures to ensure the most complete protection of personal data processed through this website. However, Internet-based data transmissions may in principle have security gaps, so absolute protection may not be guaranteed. For this reason, every data subject is free to transfer personal data to us via alternative means, e.g. by telephone.

1. Definitions

The data protection declaration of GFZ Map Services (sdi.gfz.de) is based on the terms used by the European legislator for the adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Our data protection declaration should be legible and understandable for the general public, as well as our customers and business partners. To ensure this, we would like to first explain the terminology used.

In this data protection declaration, we use, inter alia, the following terms:

• a) Personal data
  Personal data means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (“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.
  
  
• b) Data subject
  Data subject is any identified or identifiable natural person, whose personal data is processed by the controller responsible for the processing.
  
  
• c) Processing
  Processing is any operation or set of operations which is performed on personal data or on sets of 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.
  
  
• d) Restriction of processing
  Restriction of processing is the marking of stored personal data with the aim of limiting their processing in the future.
  
  
• e) 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.
  
  
• f) Pseudonymisation
  Pseudonymisation is the processing of personal data in such a manner 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.
  
  
• g) Controller or controller responsible for the processing
  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.
  
  
• h) Processor
  Processor is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body which processes personal data on behalf of the controller.
  
  
• i) Recipient
  Recipient is 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; the processing of those data by those public authorities shall be in compliance with the applicable data protection rules according to the purposes of the processing.
  
  
• j) Third party
  Third party is 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.
  
  
• k) Consent
  Consent of the data subject 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 for the purposes of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), other data protection laws applicable in Member states of the European Union and other provisions related to data protection is:

GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences
Telegrafenberg
14473 Potsdam
Germany
Phone: +49 331 6264 0
Website: https://www.gfz.de/en/

3. Name and Address of the Data Protection Officer

The Data Protection Officer of the controller is:

Eva Grübel-Hoffmann
E-Mail: datenschutz@gfz.de

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

4. Cookies

The Internet pages of the GFZ use cookies. Cookies are text files that are stored in a computer system via an Internet browser.

Many Internet sites and servers use cookies. Many cookies contain a so-called cookie ID. A cookie ID is a unique identifier of the cookie. It consists of a character string through which Internet pages and servers can be assigned to the specific Internet browser in which the cookie was stored. This allows visited Internet sites and servers to differentiate the individual browser of the data subject from other Internet browsers that contain other cookies. A specific Internet browser can be recognized and identified using the unique cookie ID.

Through the use of cookies, the GFZ can provide the users of this website with more user-friendly services that would not be possible without the cookie setting.

By means of a cookie, the information and offers on our website can be optimized with the user in mind. Cookies allow us, as previously mentioned, to recognize our website users. The purpose of this recognition is to make it easier for users to utilize our website. The website user that uses cookies, e.g. does not have to enter access data each time the website is accessed, because this is taken over by the website, and the cookie is thus stored on the user's computer system. Another example is the cookie of a shopping cart in an online shop. The online store remembers the articles that a customer has placed in the virtual shopping cart via a cookie.

The data subject may, at any time, prevent the setting of cookies through our website by means of a corresponding setting of the Internet browser used, and may thus permanently deny the setting of cookies. Furthermore, already set cookies may be deleted at any time via an Internet browser or other software programs. This is possible in all popular Internet browsers. A deletion of the chronicle may also lead to a deletion of the cookies. If the data subject deactivates the setting of cookies in the Internet browser used, not all functions of our website may be entirely usable.

Name	Company	Purpose	Type	Storage duration	Party
messages	GFZ	Stores messages from the system to the user	Essential	Session	1st Party
csrftoken	GFZ	Protects forms against CSRF (Cross Site Request Forgery) attacks.	Essential	1 year	1st Party
django_language	GFZ	Stores the language-selection of the user.	Functional	Session	1st Party
sessionid	GFZ	Identifier of the unique session of an authorized user (Geonode)	Functional	14 Tage	1st Party
JSESSIONID	GFZ	Identifier of the unique session of an authorized user (Geoserver)	Functional	Session	1st Party

5. Collection of general data and information

The website of GFZ Map Services (sdi.gfz.de) collects a series of general data and information when a data subject or automated system calls up the website. This general data and information are stored in the server log files. Collected may be (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 referrers), (4) the sub-websites, (5) the date and time of access to the Internet site, (6) an Internet protocol address (IP address), (7) the Internet service provider of the accessing system, and (8) any other similar data and information that may be used in the event of attacks on our information technology systems.

When using these general data and information, the GFZ does not draw any conclusions about the data subject. Rather, this information is needed to (1) deliver the content of our website correctly, (2) optimize the content of our website as well as its advertisement, (3) ensure the long-term viability of our information technology 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 GFZ analyses anonymously collected data and information statistically, with the aim of increasing the data protection and data security of our Institute, and 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.

Address of the service provider for this website:
GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences
Telegrafenberg
14473 Potsdam
Germany
Website: sdi.gfz.de
E-Mail: sec52-admins@gfz.de

6. Registration on our website

The data subject has the possibility to register on the website of the controller with the indication of personal data. Which personal data are transmitted to the controller is determined by the respective input mask used for the registration. The personal data provided by the data subject is used to trace uploaded and processed datasets back to users, and to enable contact with users who provide the datasets. In addition, personal data is used exclusively for internal purposes by the data controller and is collected and stored for their own purposes. The controller may request transfer to one or more processors (e.g. a parcel service) that also uses personal data for an internal purpose which is attributable to the controller.

By registering on the website of the controller, the IP address—assigned by the Internet service provider (ISP) and used by the data subject—date, and time of the registration are also stored. The storage of this data takes place against the background that this is the only way to prevent the misuse of our services, and, if necessary, to make it possible to investigate committed offenses. Insofar, the storage of this data is necessary to secure the controller. This data is not passed on to third parties unless there is a statutory obligation to pass on the data, or if the transfer serves the aim of criminal prosecution.

The registration of the data subject, with the voluntary indication of personal data, is intended to enable the controller to offer the data subject contents or services that may only be offered to registered users due to the nature of the matter in question. Registered persons are free to change the personal data specified during the registration at any time, or to have them completely deleted from the data stock of the controller.

The data controller shall, at any time, provide information upon request to each data subject as to what personal data are stored about the data subject. In addition, the data controller shall correct or erase personal data at the request or indication of the data subject, insofar as there are no statutory storage obligations. The entirety of the controller’s employees are available to the data subject in this respect as contact persons.

7. Contact possibility via the website

The website of GFZ Map Services (sdi.gfz.de) contains information that enables a quick electronic contact to our Institute, as well as direct communication with us, which also includes a general address of the so-called electronic mail (e-mail address). If a data subject contacts the controller by e-mail or via a contact form, the personal data transmitted by the data subject are automatically stored. Such personal data transmitted on a voluntary basis by a data subject to the data controller are stored for the purpose of processing or contacting the data subject. There is no transfer of this personal data to third parties.

8. Routine erasure and blocking of personal data

The data controller shall process and store the personal data of the data subject only for the period necessary to achieve the purpose of storage, or as far as this is granted by the European legislator or other legislators in laws or regulations to which the controller is subject to.

If the storage purpose is not applicable, or if a storage period prescribed by the European legislator or another competent legislator expires, the personal data are routinely blocked or erased in accordance with legal requirements.

9. Rights of the data subject

• a) Right of confirmation
  Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator to obtain from the controller the confirmation as to whether or not personal data concerning him or her are being processed. If a data subject wishes to avail himself of this right of confirmation, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of the controller.
  
  
• b) Right of access
  

  Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator to obtain from the controller free information about his or her personal data stored at any time and a copy of this information. Furthermore, the European directives and regulations grant the data subject access to the following information:
  

  • the purposes of the processing;
  • the categories of personal data concerned;
  • the recipients or categories of recipients to whom the personal data have been or will be disclosed, in particular recipients in third countries or international organisations;
  • where possible, the envisaged period for which the personal data will be stored, or, if not possible, the criteria used to determine that period;
  • the existence of the right to request from the controller rectification or erasure of personal data, or restriction of processing of personal data concerning the data subject, or to object to such processing;
  • the existence of the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority;
  • where the personal data are not collected from the data subject, any available information as to their source;
  • the existence of automated decision-making, including profiling, referred to in Article 22(1) and (4) of the GDPR and, at least in those cases, meaningful information about the logic involved, as well as the significance and envisaged consequences of such processing for the data subject.
  
  

  Furthermore, the data subject shall have a right to obtain information as to whether personal data are transferred to a third country or to an international organisation. Where this is the case, the data subject shall have the right to be informed of the appropriate safeguards relating to the transfer.
  
  If a data subject wishes to avail himself of this right of access, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of the controller.

• c) Right to rectification
  Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator to obtain from the controller without undue delay the rectification of inaccurate personal data concerning him or her. Taking into account the purposes of the processing, the data subject shall have the right to have incomplete personal data completed, including by means of providing a supplementary statement.
  
  If a data subject wishes to exercise this right to rectification, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of the controller.
  
  
• d) Right to erasure (Right to be forgotten)
  

  Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator to obtain from the controller the erasure of personal data concerning him or her without undue delay, and the controller shall have the obligation to erase personal data without undue delay where one of the following grounds applies, as long as the processing is not necessary:
  

  • The personal data are no longer necessary in relation to the purposes for which they were collected or otherwise processed.
  • The data subject withdraws consent to which the processing is based according to point (a) of Article 6(1) of the GDPR, or point (a) of Article 9(2) of the GDPR, and where there is no other legal ground for the processing.
  • The data subject objects to the processing pursuant to Article 21(1) of the GDPR and there are no overriding legitimate grounds for the processing, or the data subject objects to the processing pursuant to Article 21(2) of the GDPR.
  • The personal data have been unlawfully processed.
  • The personal data must be erased for compliance with a legal obligation in Union or Member State law to which the controller is subject.
  • The personal data have been collected in relation to the offer of information society services referred to in Article 8(1) of the GDPR.
  
  

  If one of the aforementioned reasons applies, and a data subject wishes to request the erasure of personal data stored by the GFZ, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of the controller. An employee of GFZ shall promptly ensure that the erasure request is complied with immediately.
  
  Where the controller has made personal data public and is obliged pursuant to Article 17(1) to erase the personal data, the controller, taking account of available technology and the cost of implementation, shall take reasonable steps, including technical measures, to inform other controllers processing the personal data that the data subject has requested erasure by such controllers of any links to, or copy or replication of, those personal data, as far as processing is not required. An employees of the GFZ will arrange the necessary measures in individual cases.

• e) Right of restriction of processing
  

  Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator to obtain from the controller restriction of processing where one of the following applies:
  

  • The accuracy of the personal data is contested by the data subject, for a period enabling the controller to verify the accuracy of the personal data.
  • The processing is unlawful and the data subject opposes the erasure of the personal data and requests instead the restriction of their use instead.
  • The controller no longer needs the personal data for the purposes of the processing, but they are required by the data subject for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.
  • The data subject has objected to processing pursuant to Article 21(1) of the GDPR pending the verification whether the legitimate grounds of the controller override those of the data subject.
  
  

  If one of the aforementioned conditions is met, and a data subject wishes to request the restriction of the processing of personal data stored by the GFZ, he or she may at any time contact any employee of the controller. The employee of the GFZ will arrange the restriction of the processing.

• f) Right to data portability
  Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator, to receive the personal data concerning him or her, which was provided to a controller, in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format. He or she shall have the right to transmit those data to another controller without hindrance from the controller to which the personal data have been provided, as long as the processing is based on consent pursuant to point (a) of Article 6(1) of the GDPR or point (a) of Article 9(2) of the GDPR, or on a contract pursuant to point (b) of Article 6(1) of the GDPR, and the processing is carried out by automated means, as long as the processing is not necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller.
  
  Furthermore, in exercising his or her right to data portability pursuant to Article 20(1) of the GDPR, the data subject shall have the right to have personal data transmitted directly from one controller to another, where technically feasible and when doing so does not adversely affect the rights and freedoms of others.
  
  In order to assert the right to data portability, the data subject may at any time contact any employee of the GFZ.
  
  
• g) Right to object
  Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator to object, on grounds relating to his or her particular situation, at any time, to processing of personal data concerning him or her, which is based on point (e) or (f) of Article 6(1) of the GDPR. This also applies to profiling based on these provisions.
  
  The GFZ shall no longer process the personal data in the event of the objection, unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override the interests, rights and freedoms of the data subject, or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.
  
  If the GFZ processes personal data for direct marketing purposes, the data subject shall have the right to object at any time to processing of personal data concerning him or her for such marketing. This applies to profiling to the extent that it is related to such direct marketing. If the data subject objects to the GFZ to the processing for direct marketing purposes, the GFZ will no longer process the personal data for these purposes.
  
  In addition, the data subject has the right, on grounds relating to his or her particular situation, to object to processing of personal data concerning him or her by the GFZ for scientific or historical research purposes, or for statistical purposes pursuant to Article 89(1) of the GDPR, unless the processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out for reasons of public interest.
  
  In order to exercise the right to object, the data subject may contact any employee of the GFZ. In addition, the data subject is free in the context of the use of information society services, and notwithstanding Directive 2002/58/EC, to use his or her right to object by automated means using technical specifications.
  
  
• h) Automated individual decision-making, including profiling
  Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing, including profiling, which produces legal effects concerning him or her, or similarly significantly affects him or her, as long as the decision (1) is not is necessary for entering into, or the performance of, a contract between the data subject and a data controller, or (2) is not authorised by Union or Member State law to which the controller is subject and which also lays down suitable measures to safeguard the data subject's rights and freedoms and legitimate interests, or (3) is not based on the data subject's explicit consent.
  
  If the decision (1) is necessary for entering into, or the performance of, a contract between the data subject and a data controller, or (2) it is based on the data subject's explicit consent, the GFZ shall implement suitable measures to safeguard the data subject's rights and freedoms and legitimate interests, at least the right to obtain human intervention on the part of the controller, to express his or her point of view and contest the decision.
  
  If the data subject wishes to exercise the rights concerning automated individual decision-making, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of the GFZ.
  
  
• i) Right to withdraw data protection consent
  Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator to withdraw his or her consent to processing of his or her personal data at any time.
  
  If the data subject wishes to exercise the right to withdraw the consent, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of the GFZ.
  
  
• j) Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority
  Furthermore, every data subject has the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority if the data subject is of the opinion that the processing of their personal data breaches the GDPR.
  
  The responsible supervisory authority is the Brandenburg Commissioner for Data Protection and Access to Information
  
  Frau Dagmar Hartge
  Stahnsdorfer Damm 77
  14532 Kleinmachnow
  Phone: +49 332 0356 0
  Fax: +49 332 0356 49
  E-Mail: poststelle@lda.brandenburg.de
  
  

10. Data protection information regarding the integration of various map services

When this website is accessed, various map services are integrated, which automatically load content from external servers when the page loads (e.g., via JavaScript or iFrame). In doing so, personal data—especially your IP address, browser information, and the time of access—may be transmitted to the servers of the respective providers. The integration is performed in the interest of a proper and illustrative presentation of the content and to support the spatial classification of the displayed data.

The legal basis for this is Article 6(1) lit. f GDPR (legitimate interest).

Integrated services:

• OpenStreetMap.org (tile.openstreetmap.org)
  OpenStreetMap Foundation (St John’s Innovation Centre, Cowley Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WS, United Kingdom)
  Further information on data protection can be found at: https://osmfoundation.org/wiki/Privacy_Policy
• OpenStreetMap.de (tile.openstreetmap.de)
  FOSSGIS e.V (Bundesallee 23, 10717 Berlin, Germany)
  Further information on data protection can be found at: https://openstreetmap.de/impressum/datenschutz
• OpenTopoMap.org (tile.opentopomap.org)
  OpenTopoMap project (based on OpenStreetMap data)
  Further information can be found at: https://opentopomap.org
• GeoSolutions (maps.geo-solutions.it)
  GeoSolutions (Via Poggio alle Viti 1187, 55054 Massarosa, Italy)
  Further information can be found at: https://www.geo-solutions.it

11. Legal basis for the processing

Art. 6(1) lit. a GDPR serves as the legal basis for processing operations for which we obtain consent for a specific processing purpose. If the processing of personal data is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is party, as is the case, for example, when processing operations are necessary for the supply of goods or to provide any other service, the processing is based on Article 6(1) lit. b GDPR. The same applies to such processing operations which are necessary for carrying out pre-contractual measures, for example in the case of inquiries concerning our products or services. Is our institute subject to a legal obligation by which processing of personal data is required, such as for the fulfilment of tax obligations, the processing is based on Art. 6(1) lit. c GDPR. In rare cases, the processing of personal data may be necessary to protect the vital interests of the data subject or of another natural person. This would be the case, for example, if a visitor were injured in our institute and his name, age, health insurance data or other vital information would have to be passed on to a doctor, hospital or other third party. Then the processing would be based on Art. 6(1) lit. d GDPR. Finally, processing operations could be based on Article 6(1) lit. f GDPR. This legal basis is used for processing operations which are not covered by any of the abovementioned legal grounds, if processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by our institute or by a third party, except where such interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject which require protection of personal data. Such processing operations are particularly permissible because they have been specifically mentioned by the European legislator. He considered that a legitimate interest could be assumed if the data subject is a client of the controller (Recital 47 Sentence 2 GDPR).

12. The legitimate interests pursued by the controller or by a third party

To the extent that processing of personal data is based on Article 6(1) lit. f GDPR, our legitimate interest is the fulfillment of our scientific tasks, particularly in research and knowledge transfer, as well as ensuring the orderly and efficient operation of our institution.

13. Period for which the personal data will be stored

The criteria used to determine the period of storage of personal data is the respective statutory retention period. After expiration of that period, the corresponding data is routinely deleted, as long as it is no longer necessary for the fulfilment of the contract or the initiation of a contract.

14. Provision of personal data as statutory or contractual requirement; Requirement necessary to enter into a contract; Obligation of the data subject to provide the personal data; possible consequences of failure to provide such data

We clarify that the provision of personal data is partly required by law (e.g. tax regulations) or can 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 when our institute signs a contract with him or her. 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, the data subject must contact any employee. The employee clarifies to the data subject 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 the consequences of non-provision of the personal data.

15. Existence of automated decision-making

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

Validity and modification of our data protection regulations

This privacy policy has the status 04/2026 and is currently valid. We reserve the right to adapt this data protection notice from time to time so that it always meets the current legal requirements or to implement changes to our services in the data protection notice, e.g. when introducing new services. The new data protection notice then applies to your next visit.

This Privacy Policy has been generated by the Privacy Policy Generator of the DGD - Your External DPO that was developed in cooperation with German Lawyers from WILDE BEUGER SOLMECKE, Cologne.