Cookie policy

2. What are cookies?

Our website uses cookies. Cookies are small files that are placed on your device (e.g. computer, smartphone or tablet) when you visit our website. The purpose of cookies is to enable our website to function correctly, to expand the website's functionality and to optimise the website's functions. For example, the website can remember certain inputs and settings (e.g. language, font size) over a certain period of time, which means you do not have to perform repeat inputs and settings each time you visit the website.

There are cookies that require your consent before they can be used on your device and cookies that can be used without your consent because they are technically required for us to render our services ("essential cookies"). In the case of essential cookies, the data processing is required for the purpose of data security measures, to prevent abuse and to optimise the website and is therefore based on our legitimate interests pursuant to Art. 6(1) (f) GDPR in conjunction with Art. 96(3) TKG. We use all other cookies on our website via the cookie banner, solely on the basis of your prior express consent pursuant to Art. 6(1) (a) GDPR.

Our website also gives you the possibility to accept the use of cookies by clicking on the "Agree to cookies" button on our cookie banner, which automatically appears the first time you visit our website or when changes are made. By clicking on the "Reject cookies" button, you reject all non-essential cookies. After clicking on "Settings", you can allow or reject certain categories of cookies. If you do not select the checkbox and click on "Confirm selection", no cookie-based services requiring your consent will be loaded.


3. Which cookies are used?

On the website, VERBUND uses necessary cookies, cookies for statistical purposes or cookies to show you information tailored to your requirements. The categories of cookies used in conjunction with the website are described below:

4.   Deactivating cookies

• Mozilla Firefox: https://support.mozilla.org/de/kb/cookies-loeschen-daten-von-websites-entfernen
• Internet Explorer: https://support.microsoft.com/de-de/help/17442/windows-internet-explorer-delete-manage-cookies
• Google Chrome: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/61416?hl=de
• Safari: https://support.apple.com/kb/PH17191?locale=de_AT&viewlocale=de_DE

However, please note that if you deactivate cookies, you may not be able to use all functions of this website to the fullest extent possible. In this case, you may have to manually make a number of settings each time you visit the website and accept that several functions may be impaired.

5. Tools

On the basis of the consent, you voluntarily granted (Art. 6(1) (a) GDPR), VERBUND uses different tools via the cookie banner.

5.1 Google Analytics

VERBUND uses Google Analytics, a web analysis service provided by Google Inc. ("Google"). Google Analytics also uses cookies, which enable analysis of how you use the website. The information generated by the cookies about your usage of this website will be transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there. Please note that Google Analytics has been extended on this website with the code "gat._anonymizeIp();", in order to assure the anonymised collection of IP addresses. The IP address of the users is therefore truncated on the website before it is saved on the Google servers (so-called IP masking). The full IP address will therefore not be transmitted to a server of Google in the USA. Only in exceptional circumstances will the full IP address be transmitted to a server of Google in the USA and truncated there. At the request of VERBUND, Google will use the information to analyse the use of the website, to compile reports on the website activities for the website operator, and to render further services associated with the use of the website and the use of the internet.

You can prevent the installation of cookies by making the relevant settings in your browser software (so-called "browser add-on"); however, please note that in this case you may not be able to use all functions of this website to the fullest extent possible.

Furthermore, you can prevent the data generated by the cookie and referring to your use of the website (incl. your previously anonymised IP address) being sent to Google as well as the processing of these data by Google by downloading and installing the browser plugin available via the link provide below. The current link is: http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de.

You can find more information on the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy of Google at http://www.google.com/analytics/terms/de.html or http://www.google.com/intl/de/analytics/privacyoverview.html.

5.2 Google Adwords Conversion Tracking

This website uses the service Google Conversion Tracking of Google Ireland Limited. (Google Ireland Limited, Google Building Gordon House, 4 Barrow Street, Dublin D04 E5W5, Ireland). Google Adwords places a cookie on the visitor's computer if the visitor has reached our website via a Google ad. These cookies expire after 30 days and cannot be used to identify the user. If the user visits certain pages of the Adwords customer's website and the cookie has not yet expired, Google and the customer can see that the user clicked on the ad and was forwarded to this page. Each Adwords customer receives a different cookie. Cookies can therefore not be traced via the websites of Adwords customers. The information collected with the aid of the conversion cookie serves to create conversion statistics for Adwords customers who have opted for conversion tracking. The Adwords customers learn about the total number of users who clicked on their ad and were forwarded to a page provided with a conversion tracking tag. However, they do not receive any information that could allow them to identify users in person. If visitors would prefer not to participate in the tracking method, they can also reject the placing of a cookie required for this – such as through a browser setting that generally deactivates the automatic placing of cookies. Visitors can also deactivate cookies for conversion tracking by setting their browser to block cookies from the domain „www.googleadservices.com“.

You can find more information on how Google uses data at https://www.google.com/intl/de/policies/privacy.
 
5.3 Google Tag Manager

This website uses Google Tag Manager of Google Ireland Limited (Google Ireland Limited, Google Building Gordon House, 4 Barrow Street, Dublin D04 E5W5, Ireland). Google Tag Manager is a solution that allows marketers to manage website tags through a single interface. The 'Tag Manager' tool itself, which implements the tags, is a cookie-less domain and does not collect any personal data. The tool provides for the triggering of other tags which in turn may collect data. Google Tag Manager does not access these data. If a deactivation has been performed at domain or cookie level, this remains in place for all tracking tags that are implemented with Google Tag Manager.

5.4 Google Signals

VERBUND has activated Google Signals, an additional service of Google Ireland Limited (Google Ireland Limited, Google Building Gordon House, 4 Barrow Street, Dublin D04 E5W5, Ireland). This feature sends aggregated (non-personal) data, such as interests or demographics of Google users who have activated personalised advertisements, to Google Analytics. The data are used by VERBUND for remarketing purposes. Cross-device user behaviour can also be measured. You can find more information about Google Signals at https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/7532985?hl=de.

5.5 Outbrain

 This website uses technology from Outbrain (Outbrain UK Limited 5th Floor, The Place 175 High Holborn, London United Kingdom). Outbrain is a provider of native ads and works with publishers worldwide. The Outbrain pixel will not be displayed and the user's data will not be shared if no marketing consent has been given. Such data may consist of: which publisher/placement the click came from, from which device, browser, operating system, ad, time, country, region, interest categorised by the article, the ad that was clicked on. Everything anonymised on an anonymous user ID.
The purpose of the Pixel is to facilitate retargeting in the Outbrain network and thereby display relevant ads to users.

6. Plugins

We use social media and other 3rd-party plugins on our website. To ensure optimal protection of your data, we use the service of Shariff for social media plugins. This program prevents the social media services from tracking your visit on our website, as long as you do not actively interact with the social media plugins. Therefore, no direct contact is established between you as a user of our website and the social media service. Only when you actively click the button or otherwise interact with the plugins is the respective social media service able to process your data. In detail:

6.1 Social media plugins used

• Facebook: Facebook Inc. (Facebook Ireland Ltd., 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland); more detailed information: http://www.facebook.com/policy.php
• Twitter: Twitter Inc. (Twitter International Company, One Cumberland Place, Fenian Street, Dublin 2, D02 AX07, Ireland); more detailed information: http://twitter.com/privacy

6.2 Google Maps

On this website, map information is provided via the function "Google Maps" of Google Ireland Limited. (Google Ireland Limited, Google Building Gordon House, 4 Barrow Street, Dublin D04 E5W5, Ireland). In the course of using this function, Google also processes data on how this function is used by visitors to our website. You can find more information on how Google uses data at https://www.google.com/intl/de/policies/privacy.

7. Storage duration

8. Data recipients

• to external third parties to the extent required by our legitimate interest (e.g. auditors, insurance companies in the event of an insured event, legal representatives as the occasion requires, etc.);

• to authorities and other public bodies to the extent required by law (e.g. financial authorities, courts, etc.).

Your data will not be passed to any other third parties for their own purposes without your consent.  

9. Rights of the data subject

9.1 Right to information

You have the right to obtain information from us on all your data processed by VERBUND. You have the right to obtain information as to whether your personal data will be transferred to a third state or to an international organisation. In this regard, you may request information on whether we have provided appropriate safeguards pursuant to Article 46 GDPR in connection with the transfer of your data.

9.2 Right to rectification and right to restriction of processing

You have the right to obtain the rectification of inaccurate data and the right to have incomplete data completed. Under certain circumstances, for example if the accuracy of data is contested, you have the right to obtain the restriction of processing; in this event, data may only be processed with your consent or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims or for the protection of the rights of another natural or legal person or for reasons of important public interest.

9.3 Right to data portability

You have the right to request that VERBUND transmit to you or to a third party nominated by you, where technically feasible, a copy of your data in a structured, commonly used and machine readable format. Moreover, you have the right to transmit this data to another data controller without any obstruction from the data controller to whom the personal data has been given, if

• the processing is based on consent pursuant to Art. 6(1) (a) GDPR or Art. 9(2) (a) GDPR or on a contract pursuant to Art. 6(1) (b) GDPR,
  and
• the processing is carried out by automated means.

In exercising this right to data portability, you also have the right to have the personal data transmitted directly from one controller to another, where technically feasible. This right shall not adversely affect the rights and freedoms of others.

9.4 Right to erasure

You have the right to obtain erasure of data under certain circumstances, such as if the data have been unlawfully processed.

The so-called "right to be forgotten" does not apply because VERUND will never disclose your personal data.

If you have exercised the right to rectification, erasure or restriction of processing vis-à-vis VERBUND, we are obliged to communicate any rectification or erasure of data or restriction of processing to each recipient to whom the personal data have been disclosed, unless this proves impossible or involves disproportionate effort.

9.5 Right to object

You have the right to object at any time, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to the processing of your personal data which is based on point (e) or (f) of Art. 6(1) GDPR.

In this case, VERBUND will no longer process your personal data, unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override your interests, rights and freedoms or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.

9.6 Right to withdraw consent

You have the right to withdraw at any time your declaration of consent under data protection law. Even if you withdraw your consent, the lawfulness of processing operations carried out until you have withdrawn your consent shall not be affected.

9.7 Supervisory authority

Notwithstanding any other remedies, if you feel that your personal data were unlawfully processed, you may lodge a complaint with the national supervisory authority in your place of residence. In Austria, this supervisory authority is the Data Protection Authority.


Version: May 2022