The following data privacy commitment provides information about the protection and security of all personal data on Studymee and its subsidiaries according to the current valid laws of the FRG.

The sensible and responsible treatment of all personal user data is a high priority at Studymee. All data protection related laws and regulations are strictly enforced. These data protection laws include the regulations of the German Telemedia Law, the German Federal Data Protection Act, as well as European Union legislation. “Studymee” services are offered in accordance with the valid terms and conditions of the Studymee GmbH.

1. Personal data

1.1 Necessary registration details

Studymee is a social network. As with any inter-personal network, Studymee is based on the principle of sharing selected and accurate personal information between its users. Only so can such a network function properly. Therefore, all users are expected, at the outset, that is, upon registration, to supply the following basic personal information:

• desired user name
• first and last name
• gender
• birthday
• address, residence and country
• e-mail address
• desired portal language

Other users may only access certain details of this data, namely:

• first and last name
• gender
• place of origin
• scholastic details

Other personal details, such as e-mail adresses and passwords, are only used in the administration of user accounts by Studymee. Passwords remain confidential and are encrypted using AES (Advanced Encryption Standard process).

1.2 Voluntary Information

Moreover, users have the possibility to provide other personal details in various Studymee categories (e.g. hobbies, interests, scholastic details, forum entries, city guide, etc.) This information is not mandatory, but useful in making contact with other users, and to strengthen the informational value of the portal. Each user decides independently and at their own discretion which data they would like to divulge.

1.3 Sharing Levels (Privacy)

Additionally, by enabling the release of data in different levels, it is possible to share certain data with only pre-defined groups, thus protecting privacy. In the three-level model, any data can be made viewable to authorized contacts, while remaining invisible to others.

1.4 Definitions

• "personal data" indicates data and/or information about education, instructional methods/history, interests and hobbies, as well as oneself
• "Studymee web pages" refers to all web pages which offer Studymee services
• "Studymee members" are all registered users of the Studymee web site
• "Studymee services" are those services offered by Studymee to registered members on Studymee web pages
• "mandatory data", "required fields" pertain to personal information that must be given in order to register successfully on the Studymee portal
• "profile" is a web site on the Studymee portal which displays personal information to other users

1.5 Statistics

The following personal data statistics are accessible to other users at any time:

• profile language
• number of contacts
• number of secondary contacts
• number of site visits
• registration date
• last online visit
• ratings
• activity index

2. Purpose

2.1 The collection, storage, handling and use of personal data (see above: #1) occurs according to legal regulations (particularly section 12 et seqq./ German Telemedia Act and section 28, 29 et seqq./ Federal Data Protection Act)

2.2 Studymee employs the collected data for the following purposes, whereby not all data will be actually used for all purposes:

• Studymee employs user registration data (#1.1) for the creation and administration of the site-user contractual relationship
• member data accumulated during the usage of the Studymee platform is utilized by Studymee in the provision of Studymee services
• in order to continuously update and improve Studymee services (e.g. to establish new categories or services for commercial purposes and market research), Studymee can analyse and set up pseudonymous user profiles for this purpose, as long as the user does not make use of their legal right to oppose this use. Studymee can, for example, learn on which days and at what times Studymee web sites are most popular and how much data volume is generated by Studymee web sites. In addition, Studymee can make use of log files to identify possible errors (e.g. faulty links or bugs) for the further development of the Studymee web site. These user profiles are in no way evaluated individually; that is, the identity of users remains anonymous. From a technical, as well as a personal and administrative perspective, Studymee guarantees that pseudonymous user profiles are not merged with personal user data (Section 15, par. 3 German Telemedia Law)

3. No transfer of data to third parties

Studymee does not transfer personal user data to third parties, unless the user has previously given their explicit consent or is legally obligated to do so. If a user has consented to such a data transfer, he/she can revoke this permission at any time with a simple notification by e-mail, fax, or letter.

4. Cookies

Cookies are small text files that are either stored temporarily in the main memory or permanently in the hard drive of a computer (“session cookie” or “permanent cookie”). Session cookies are not stored on the user’s hard disk, but expire automatically when the internet browser is closed. Through cookie settings, users are assigned anonymous IDs, but no programs are implemented or viruses transferred to their computers.

Studymee employs cookies to authenticate users while logging in. The application of cookies serves to guarantee smooth operation and to improve services offered by Studymee.

Using their internet browser settings, each user can freely choose between three cookie options: to accept cookies, to be informed of each cookie transmission, or to reject all cookies. However, Studymee advises that the use of its services is not possible without the employment of cookies.

5. Server Log Files

With each user’s page view, their browser transmits access data that are stored automatically by Studymee as protocol files, the so-called server log files. Studymee cannot simply allocate this data (e.g. IP addresses) to specific persons. This data will not be combined with other data sources, especially personal user data. At the end of each user operation, the accumulated protocol files are deleted immediately.

The protocol files contain the following information: IP addresses, which identify the computer (but not the user), remote host (name and IP address of the computer which requests the page), time, status, the amount of transmitted data, the internet page from where the user has been sent to the requested page (the referrer), and the product and version information of the browser used (user agent). For this use, Studymee employs the standardized “combined” Apache webserver format.

6. Data Security (Firewalls, Anti-virus technology etc.)

Users are protected, as far as possible, from exterior viruses and unauthorized access by continuously updated firewalls and other security systems employed by Studymee. Studymee is committed to maintain an adequate level of protection and to constantly update its security technology according to current technological standards. Nevertheless, users should be aware that, due to persistent virus and other attacks on secure internet provider systems, total protection from attacks cannot be guaranteed. Studymee is not responsible for virus protection outside of the network. Likewise, Studymee is not responsible for the damage and destruction of data produced by unknown viruses. Studymee will prosecute any discovered attacks by hackers etc. according to civil and penal law.

7. Information

Each user has the right to obtain, free of charge, information from Studymee about personal data stored under their name. Information queries are to be addressed to Studymee in written form and must include a certified copy of an official and valid identification document. A response will be sent by post to the address indicated in the identification document.

8. Corrections, Deletion and Suspension

8.1 If the user modifies or corrects details entered by them and thereby deletes previous entries, this earlier information will be completely deleted automatically. An official administrative request for data modification or deletion is not necessary.

8.2 Regardless of this, users have the right to request that inapplicable data stored by Studymee be corrected at any time. However, corrections may be made most conveniently by users themselves.

8.3 If the user deletes their profile and Studymee membership irrevocably, all of their previous entries will be deleted automatically. A deletion request is not necessary.

8.4 Regardless of this, the user has the right to request that all data collected in their name and stored by Studymee be deleted. In this case, the easiest way for users to delete their data is by removing it themselves.

8.5 If the user wishes to modify, correct, or delete their personal data, they can make their request by e-mail, fax or in written form. Any such query must at least contain the following:

• first and last name
• e-mail address
• password
• address
• identification (a valid, certified copy of a ID card or passport)

8.6 Studymee would like to point out that deleted data may still be retrievable up to twenty-four hours after deletion due to caching systems and interconnecting proxy servers. Image files can eventually be retrieved for a longer period of time.

9. Corrections, Deletion and Suspension

Studymee assumes responsibility for complying with the standards specified in this data privacy statement and working continuously to improve data protection on behalf of Studymee members.

10. Security administrator

The trust of our users is of utmost importance. Therefore, Studymee would like to be accountable to its users with regard to the treatment of personal data. If you have further questions that were not discussed in this statement or in the data protection section or would like more in-depth information concerning a certain issue, please contact our security administrator at any time using the following contact data:

Studymee GmbH
c/o Meetia GmbH
Dennis Hoffmann
Fanny-Zobel-Str. 11 (11.OG)
12345 Berlin
Deutschland
datenschutz@studymee.com

11. Data privacy statement – modifications

As Studymee services are subject to modifications and amendments; this may make, in certain cases, alterations necessary with regard to the data privacy statement. The same applies to eventual changes in the relevant and evolving legal regulations that can also necessitate adjustments. The actual version of the data protection statement can be accessed at any time on the Studymee homepage under the heading “Data Privacy Statement”.