We attach great importance to the responsible handling of your personal information and personal data and firmly believe that the responsible treatment of your information is not only a legal obligation but also an expression of our commitment to your trust and satisfaction. We act with the utmost care when processing the data that is generated in the course of our activities. We ensure the highest possible data security in dealing with the information technologies used and only collect data that is absolutely necessary.

Our employees receive regular training on data protection and are obliged to comply with special confidentiality obligations. In addition, continuous monitoring is carried out to ensure compliance with data protection regulations.

This data protection declaration explains in detail how we collect and process personal data and what rights you have in this context.

1. Basic information on data protection

This data protection declaration contains the basic information on data protection. It serves to inform you about data protection and to guarantee your right to informational self-determination. The data protection declaration is continuously adapted unilaterally to the current legal requirements and to the specific data processing. The present German version is authoritative and serves as the basis for all language versions of our data protection declaration.

This data protection declaration is not an integral part of contracts with Accounto AG and the current version of our data protection declaration always applies.

1.1 Definitions of terms

Personal data: The term “personal data” or “personal data” (hereinafter also referred to as “data”) includes any information relating to a specific or identifiable natural person (e.g. name, date of birth, e-mail address, IP address). Information that has been anonymised or aggregated and thus can no longer be used to identify a specific person is not considered data.

Processing: Processing of data includes any handling of personal data, regardless of the means and procedures used, including obtaining, storing, using, disclosing (transmitting or making available), amending, retaining, archiving, deleting or destroying.

Particularly sensitive personal data: This includes data relating to religious, philosophical, political or trade union beliefs or activities, data relating to health, privacy or racial or ethnic origin, genetic data, biometric data uniquely identifying a natural person, data relating to administrative or criminal prosecutions or sanctions and data relating to social assistance measures.

Disclose: Includes the transmission or making available of personal data.

Profiling: This includes any automated processing of personal data which consists of using such data to evaluate certain personal aspects relating to a natural person, in particular to analyse or predict aspects relating to that natural person’s performance at work, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behaviour, location or change of location.

Controller: Designates a private person or a federal body that alone or together with others decides on the purpose and means of the processing.

Processor: A private person or federal body that processes personal data on behalf of the controller.

1.2 Principles of data processing

Your data will be processed in accordance with the following principles:

• Accuracy: The data collected is accurate and up-to-date. We take steps to update and correct data to ensure the accuracy of the data processed.
• Lawfulness: Your data is always processed on a legal basis and in accordance with legal requirements.
• Transparency: Data subjects are informed about the nature, purpose and modalities of data processing in a transparent manner.
• Data minimisation: Only the data necessary for the respective processing purpose(s) is collected and processed.
• Proportionality: The data is suitable and necessary for the fulfilment of the related purposes.
• Responsibility: We decide on the purpose and means of processing and are responsible for compliance with legal requirements and thus for the protection of your personality and your fundamental rights.
• Data security: We ensure risk-adequate data security through technical and organisational measures.

1.3 Applicable law

The processing of data of Swiss customers is governed exclusively by Swiss law, in particular by the Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP, SR 235.1) and the associated Ordinance to the Federal Act on Data Protection (SR 235.11). The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) shall not apply. The applicability of the GDPR remains reserved insofar as it is expressly provided for in this data protection declaration for sub-areas and insofar as the GDPR is also compulsorily applicable to data of Swiss customers due to special circumstances.

Where applicable, Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data, on the free movement of such data and on the repeal of Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation, GDPR) shall also apply to the processing of data of clients from the EU area or EEA countries in addition to the Swiss Data Protection Act. See also Section 5.1 (Legal bases of processing for customers from the EU area).

There are cases in which the obligation to provide information under data protection law can be deviated from: This is the case if information is not possible, if you have already been informed about the data processing, if the processing is required by law, if we are legally obliged to maintain confidentiality or if the information would frustrate the purpose of the processing.

1.4 Interpretation of terms

Due to the possible applicability of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), terms are to be interpreted in consideration of the applicable data protection legislation.

1.5 Informed consent

In principle, you give us your consent in an implied form, for example by using our website or a relevant interaction channel of our products or services. If express consent is required, you will be informed accordingly prior to the collection of data or the processing in question and given the opportunity to give your consent. Such consent can be given, for example, by your declaration of consent to the use of cookies (more on this in section 10.2), by your registration for one of our events or by your registration to receive our newsletter and you consent to Accounto collecting, processing, using and passing on your personal data accordingly. You can find further information on this in our Terms and Conditions.

1.6 Data security

We use technical and organisational security measures in accordance with recognised technical standards to protect personal data stored by us against accidental, unlawful or unauthorised manipulation, deletion, alteration, access, disclosure or use and against partial or total loss. Accounto’s servers are located in a multi-certified and secured data centre in Switzerland. The connection to our servers is made using SSL encryption. We carry out regular backups of customer data. To prevent data loss even in extreme cases (e.g. destruction of the data centre by an earthquake), the encrypted backups are saved in parallel in several data centres in Switzerland.

Our security measures are continuously adapted and improved in line with technological developments. We accept no liability for the loss of data or for third parties gaining access to or using the data.

1.7 Person responsible for data processing

Responsible for data processing:

Accounto AG

Militärstrasse 105

8004 Zürich

+41 (0)44 520 60 51

You can reach our data protection officer at: datenschutz@accounto.ch

Data categorisation and purpose

2.1 Data categorisation

We process the following data:

• Personal information and contact details: This includes, for example, first and last names, gender, date of birth, age, marital status, language, nationality, telephone number, email address, powers of attorney granted, authority to sign and consent forms.
• Customer and contract data: This refers to information that accrues in the context of concluding or processing a contract. This includes, for example, contract numbers, sign-ups or unsubscribes for newsletters, and customer-related meeting and feedback notes.
• Financial and payment data: This includes, for example, payment connection data, tax identification number, payments received and outstanding, reminders, credit balances.
• Technical data: This includes, for example, IP address, cookies (see section 10.2 Cookies and similar technologies), metadata, logs recording the use of our systems, IP packets and other technical identification data, data related to online/telephone communications.

2.1.1 Special feature of Human Resources

In the area of human resources, “particularly sensitive personal data” can also be processed. These include data on religious, ideological or political views or activities, data on health, privacy or racial or ethnic origin, biometric data and data on administrative and criminal prosecutions or sanctions.

2.2 Intended use

The personal information provided by you, as well as that which we lawfully receive from cooperation partners or other third parties, will be processed by us in accordance with the purposes and underlying objectives set out below. If a legal relationship falls under the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the legal bases mentioned in section 9.1 (Legal bases for processing for customers from the EU area) serve as the basis for processing.

Product, business and contract-related purposes:

• We process the data collected in order to:
• to be able to carry out pre-contractual measures (e.g. for the preparation of offers)
• to provide consulting services for our products and to demonstrate the functioning of our products (“poc” / proof of concept)
• to ensure the processing, administration and fulfilment of our contracts
• to be able to assist you with questions, problems and implementation requests regarding our products
• to be able to continuously improve the products and services you have requested
• manage your use and access to our applications, products and information
• manage our business relationship with you
• Monitor, maintain and improve the performance of our offering, products and services.

Security-related purposes:

We process the data collected to detect, prevent or investigate illegal activities.

Marketing-related purposes:

We process the data we collect in order to send you offers, information or marketing material about products or services which we believe may be of interest to you based on the data (read more in section 6.4 Newsletters), as well as for the planning and implementation of events.

Purposes in relation to compliance:

We process the data collected in order to comply with regulatory and legal obligations. In doing so, we ensure that all relevant laws, directives, guidelines and internal instructions are complied with.

Purposes in relation to human resources:

We process the data collected to check your application as part of the application process and to determine the extent to which you are suitable for the position in question. For example, we use your contact details to arrange appointments with you. We collect personal information contained in your CV, as well as data from job references or educational qualifications. In addition to this essential information, you have the option to provide us with additional details for the application process. The information you provide will be used to evaluate your application and make a decision.

We would like to expressly point out that any personal data requiring special protection (except for data on administrative and criminal prosecutions or sanctions) have no influence on our decision-making in this context.

Other purposes:

In addition, we process your data for various other purposes, such as internal operations, administrative tasks, training and quality assurance. This is also to protect customers, employees and others and to safeguard the data, confidential information and assets of Accounto or third parties.

The processing of data is based on our overriding legitimate interest, which is the efficient management and development of the company.

3. Data collection

Personal data is primarily collected directly from you (direct data collection). The following examples, which are not exhaustive, are intended to provide information.

When using the Accounto Cloud software (with login): During the free trial access as well as during the paid use of the Accounto cloud software, your personal master data (name, address, e-mail address) as well as all data collected by the user during the registration process and in the context of the use of the software are stored within the login-protected area.

When using the optional payroll and personnel module of Accounto: In this process, personal data of employees of the end customer are transmitted to Accounto. Accounto treats this data with reasonable care and ensures its security in accordance with the standards in this privacy policy. The End Client declares its consent and releases Accounto from any possible claims by employees of the End Client against Accounto. The End Client further declares that it bears sole responsibility for informing its employees regarding the possible storage, use, processing and disclosure of data by Accounto in accordance with the guidelines in this Privacy Policy. If individual employees of the End Client do not agree with the intended data processing, the End Client is responsible for deleting the respective data of its employees in its Accounto Cloud accordingly.

For banking functions: When using the available banking functions of Accounto or when connecting your own account to a bank, data is exchanged between Accounto and the bank concerned. This also includes payment and bank-specific information such as IBAN, account information, etc.

When using various communication channels: You have the option of contacting us in various ways. These include, but are not limited to, our website (email address, telephone, ChatBot), social media platforms (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube) and via Google reviews. In doing so, your contact details and your request are recorded in order to comply with your wishes or to take them into account in the development of our product and services (read more about this under point “6. Electronic communication and newsletter”).

When using further partner functions: When using any other optionally available partner functions (e.g. connection via myAXA account) of Accounto or when connecting your own account to a partner, data is exchanged between Accounto and the partner concerned.

If legally permissible, we may also obtain certain data from publicly accessible sources (e.g. debt enforcement register, land register, commercial register, media, Internet) or receive such information from authorities, cooperation partners or other third parties.

4. Disclosure of the data

We ensure the protection of your data and do not sell it to third parties.

However, we reserve the right to disclose data, even if it is confidential information. In many cases, disclosure of such confidential information is necessary to process contracts or provide other services.

Non-disclosure agreements do not normally preclude such disclosures, including to service providers. We will ensure that these third parties handle the data appropriately, taking into account the nature of the data and the circumstances.

So, in certain circumstances, your data may be disclosed to processors and third parties. For example, in the course of fulfilling contractual or legal obligations and for the purposes mentioned above, we sometimes work with processors, including partner companies and service providers, selected third-party companies, institutes and/or legally authorised government authorities.

These processors are contractually obliged to process the data exclusively in accordance with the purposes specified by Accounto, to fully comply with the relevant and pertinent data protection provisions and to maintain confidentiality.

We may also disclose your data to countries outside Switzerland or the European Economic Area (EEA) countries for processing in accordance with the purposes set out by Accounto, provided that this is necessary for the performance of a contract with you, for legal proceedings abroad or if there is an overriding public interest and, if these countries have an inadequate level of data protection, you have given your consent to this. Before doing so, we will ensure that this country guarantees an adequate level of data protection. If the level of data protection in that country is not adequate, we take measures through appropriate contractual arrangements (e.g. based on standard contractual clauses of the European Commission or the company’s own guidelines, the so-called Binding Corporate Rules [BCR]) as well as effective technical security measures to ensure an adequate level of protection.

5. Profiling / automated individual case decision

Accounto does not use any techniques for profiling or automatic decision-making. Should Accounto use these techniques in individual cases, you will be informed of this separately if this is required by law.

6. Electronic communication and newsletter

In the following, you will find additional information on various means of communication and interaction.

Unless otherwise stated, the processing of personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is based on our legitimate interest (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR) in lively communication and an active exchange with you as well as in the continuous improvement of our offers. Furthermore, we consider your use of the respective communication channel as consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a DSGVO) to data processing for the stated purpose. If the communication takes place in connection with the conclusion of a licence agreement, the additional legal basis for the data processing is the contractual aspect (initiation or execution of a contract; Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b DSGVO).

6.1 Electronic communication and data security

Our website offers you various ways to contact Accounto. However, despite comprehensive technical and organisational protective measures, there is a possibility that data may be lost or intercepted and/or manipulated by unauthorised persons.

We make every effort to ensure the security of your data within our systems by taking appropriate technical and organisational security measures.

It is important to note that your computer is outside the security perimeter controlled by Accounto. It is your responsibility as a user to be aware of the necessary security precautions and to take appropriate measures. Accounto accepts no liability for any damage that you may suffer as a result of data loss or manipulation. The Internet is a worldwide open network. If you transmit personal data via the Internet, you always do so at your own risk. In the case of unencrypted electronic communication, data can be intercepted, manipulated or lost by third parties. In particular, there is a risk of access by third parties when transmitting data by e-mail. However, access is protected by means of HTTPS. In addition, the customer must go through a two-factor authentication.

6.2 Two-factor authentication

For an additional layer of security, in connection with two-factor authentication, you will receive a security code as part of your login to your email address that you used for the original registration, so that you identify yourself a second time (beyond your email address and password).

6.3 CRM and support tools

The applications used internally and their use are explained below with regard to aspects relevant to data protection.

6.3.1 Hubspot

We use Hubspot (provider: Hubspot, Inc. – 25 First Street – Cambridge – MA 02141 USA) as a CRM platform. As a central database for customer information, we record your contact details and other information relevant to the customer or business relationship (e.g. contacts and interactions, status of contract negotiations, likelihood of closing, customer enquiries, etc.). This enables us to effectively manage and optimise marketing, sales and customer service activities and to efficiently plan events.

Marketing and sales activities are partly automated (e.g. confirmations for event registrations or newsletter registrations as well as the automatic sending of targeted, time-limited emails (sequences).

We make our chatbot (text-based dialogue system) available to you via this platform. If you accept the cookies and consent to the processing activity, the data you leave will be collected and stored and your chat history will be forwarded to our customer service in order to make our communication with you and our customer service as efficient as possible.

As a Swiss-based customer, Hubspot will subject our data to special regulations when processing it, especially when disclosing it abroad or to third countries, in order to ensure an appropriate level of protection. You can find out how Hubspot may use your data in the relevant Hubspot privacy policy.

6.3.2 Intercom

We use Intercom (provider: Intercom, Inc. – Delaware corporation – 55 2nd Street, 4th Fl. – San Francisco – CA 94105- USA) as a customer communication platform that allows us to interact with customers in real time. In doing so, we collect and store your contact information name, email address, phone number and other contact details / information provided by you. In addition, each chat history is paired with an individual conversation number for tracking purposes.

We can also provide you with the chatbot (text-based dialogue system) integrated in our apps via Intercom. If you accept the cookies and consent to the processing activity, the data you leave will be collected and stored and your chat history will be forwarded to our customer service.

By using Intercom, we can optimise our customer support, build customer relationships as well as ensure a quick implementation of customer requests.

As a Swiss-based client, Intercom will treat our data separately when processing it, in particular when disclosing it, in order to ensure an appropriate level of data protection. This is done either by processing in an area determined by the European Commission to be adequate for the protection of personal data, by ensuring adequate safeguards for personal data, and by relying on standard contractual clauses approved by the European Commission. Learn more in Intercom’s privacy statement.

6.3.3 Slack

For internal communication we use Slack (provider: Slack Technologies Limited – Salesforce Tower – 60 R801, North Dock – Dublin, Ireland). All the data mentioned under point “2.1 Data categorisation” can be collected, processed and stored here. We use Slack to improve the communication of our teams, to make the collaboration of our departments more efficient and thus to always drive the development of our product and services.

As a Swiss-based customer, Slack will treat our data separately when processing it, in particular when disclosing it, in order to ensure an appropriate level of data protection. For example, Slack uses the standard contractual clauses approved by the European Commission (and, where applicable, the corresponding standard contractual clauses for the United Kingdom) to legally secure data transfers to countries where there is not an adequate level of protection. Learn more about this in Slack’s privacy policy.

6.4 Newsletter

If you would like to receive a newsletter offered on our website, we require an e-mail address and other information from you that allows us to verify that you are the owner of the e-mail address provided and that you agree to receive the newsletter (“double opt-in” procedure).

With the newsletter, you will regularly receive recommendations, offers and event information that may be of interest to you. For this purpose, we collect and process personal data regarding your usage behaviour on our website, in Accounto and how you use our newsletter (e.g. whether you open the newsletter or which web URL links you click on). We evaluate this data for statistical purposes in order to better tailor the content of the newsletter to your interests.

The processing of the personal data entered in the newsletter registration form is based on your consent, which you can revoke at any time for the future. The revocation takes place via the “unsubscribe” link in the newsletter. We use the personal data collected from you for the design of the content and the dispatch of the newsletter.

We store the personal data you provide for the purpose of receiving the newsletter until you unsubscribe from the newsletter. However, further processing of the same personal data may result from other processing purposes and legal bases.

The legal basis for the applicability of the DSGVO is your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a DSGVO).

7. Duration of storage

The data we collect is stored for as long as it is in accordance with the statutory retention periods (e.g. accounting, statute of limitations, company law regulations, tax and social security law) and may also be stored for as long as our legitimate interests (in particular to provide evidence or defend against claims as well as to ensure responsible data management) are consistent and allow this. The statutory retention periods are generally at least 10 years. Statutory limitation periods are usually between 5 and 20 years.

In addition, we ensure that data is only stored for as long as is absolutely necessary for the respective processing purpose. Thus, the storage period can range from a few days to several years or longer.

8. Data subjects’ rights

If your data is processed by Accounto, you have the right, in accordance with the applicable data protection regulations and the processing purpose, to exercise the rights listed in this section at any time and in principle free of charge as follows:

You can send your requests by e-mail via datenschutz@accounto.ch (unencrypted) or in writing to the postal address of the data controller mentioned in section 1.7.

To ensure that no abuse takes place, it is usually necessary to clearly prove your identity (for example, by providing a copy of your identity card or passport), unless we can otherwise clearly identify you.

In the event of a breach of your rights, you are free to lodge a complaint with the relevant data protection authority. The address for this is:

Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner

Feldeggweg 1

CH-3003 Bern

You are free to exercise the following right:

Right to information: You are entitled to request information from us as to whether and what data we process about you. To obtain such information, you can contact us in writing or by e-mail.

Please enclose a copy of your identity card or passport if your identity cannot be clearly established by other means.

Right to rectification: If we process inaccurate personal data about you, we are obliged to rectify this after receiving your notification. We will be happy to make the necessary corrections.

Right to erasure: If you wish to request the erasure of data that is not absolutely necessary for the performance of a contract or that is not being processed due to legal requirements (e.g. retention obligations) or an overriding legitimate interest on our part, you have the corresponding rights.

In cases where deletion is not possible for technical reasons or would involve a disproportionate effort, we reserve the right to refuse your request for deletion.

Right to restrict processing: In certain circumstances, you have the right to restrict the processing of your data. This may be the case if you dispute the accuracy of the data or claim unlawful processing.

Right to object: You are entitled to object to the processing of your data at any time, especially if this processing is in the interest of our company, for example in the case of direct marketing.

Withdrawal of consent: If the processing of your data is based on your consent, you have the right to revoke this consent at any time for future processing. Please note that such revocation is only possible if the data processing is not necessary for the fulfilment of contractual obligations.

Right to data portability: You have the right to request certain personal data from us in a commonly used electronic format or to request its transfer to another controller.

Automated individual case decision-making: If we make automated individual case decisions in accordance with applicable laws, we will inform you. In such a case, you have the right to express your view, challenge the decision and request that the decision be reviewed by a real person.

8.1 Data subjects’ rights when the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies

Insofar as the European General Data Protection Regulation applies, you have the following rights with regard to your personal data:

The right to information according to Art. 15 DSGVO

The right to rectification according to Art. 16 DSGVO

The right to erasure (“right to be forgotten”) according to Article 17 DSGVO

The right to restriction of processing under Article 18 of the GDPR

The right to data portability according to Article 20 DSGVO

The right to object according to Article 21 DSGVO

If you are of the opinion that the processing of personal data concerning you violates the GDPR, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a competent supervisory authority pursuant to Article 77 GDPR.

Accounto will of course be happy to receive your questions and requests in advance of a complaint. To do so, please contact us by e-mail at datenschutz@accounto.ch.

9. Legal basis of our processing:

The legal basis and the purpose of the data processing primarily lie in the initiation and/or fulfilment of a licence agreement. Furthermore, we base our data processing on legal foundations, legal obligations and/or consent (by you or a person authorised by you), as well as on the overriding, legitimate interest of Accounto (in particular, in order to pursue the purposes and associated objectives also mentioned with priority and to implement corresponding measures). In order to be able to conclude a licence agreement with us, we require all the data that is necessary for the initiation and implementation of the business relationship as well as for the fulfilment of the associated contractual obligations. Without this data, we cannot conclude a contract with you, fulfil it or provide the corresponding services.

9.1 Legal basis for processing for customers from the EU / EEA countries:

The processing of your data for the purposes stated in section 2.3 is carried out in accordance with Article 6 para. 1 letter b DSGVO for the fulfilment of the contract. The object of the contract is the above-mentioned services. Likewise, the data is processed in accordance with Article 6 (1) (c) DSGVO for the fulfilment of legal obligations (e.g. storage and documentation obligations). This includes in particular your personal master data.

Furthermore, the processing of your data, as described above, is based on your consent (Art. 7 DSGVO) as well as for the protection of Accounto’s legitimate interests (Art. 6 para. 1 letter f DSGVO).

These are for example:

• to improve the products and services (including the delivery of direct mail)
• monitor and improve the performance of the service
• to detect, prevent or investigate illegal activities
• the efficient and effective protection of clients, employees and other persons as well as of data, confidential information and assets of (or entrusted to) Accounto Ltd.
• efficient and effective customer service, lively communication and active exchange with customers beyond the execution of contracts
• meaningful management and development of the company
• participation in legal proceedings, cooperation with authorities and assertion, enforcement, exercise or defence of legal claims
• maintaining and securely organising business operations
• Operation and further development of websites and other IT systems

If you believe that one or more of the purposes set out in clause 2.3 is not covered by the legal bases set out above, you may request that we no longer process your personal data for certain individual purposes (opt-out), unless such processing is otherwise justified. Such opt-out will not prevent you from continuing to use the Accounto Cloud Software unless such use necessarily requires the relevant data processing. You can send such an opt-out in writing to the Accounto address mentioned above. However, it is also sufficient to send an e-mail to the address datenschutz@accounto.ch.

10. Use of our website

In this section you will find additional information that will become relevant when you visit our website and use our services.

10.1 Links to other websites

The Accounto website contains hyperlinks to third-party websites that are not operated or controlled by Accounto. Accounto is not responsible for their content or data protection practices.

10.2 Cookies and similar technologies

Cookies are information files that help to make your visit to our websites easier, more pleasant and more meaningful. Cookies are small files. When you visit or use our website, these files are stored on your computer or mobile device (e.g. smartphone or tablet). Cookies are used to save certain settings and data in connection with the interaction on our website in your browser. When a cookie is activated, it is assigned a unique identification number (cookie ID). This allows us to recognise your browser and use the information stored in the cookie.

You can independently manage your security settings in the browser and thereby block or deactivate cookies used by us, whereby certain Accounto services may then no longer be able to be used (in full).

10.3 Tracking and analysis tools

In order to obtain information about the use of our website and to optimise our online offer, we use web analysis tools. These tools are usually provided by third-party providers. The data about the use of a website is usually collected using cookies and transferred to the third-party provider’s server. The servers of these third-party providers are often located abroad.

The data transfer is carried out taking into account the anonymisation of IP addresses, which prevents the identification of your end device (e.g. computer, tablet, smartphone). The IP address transmitted by your browser when using third-party tools is not linked to other data of these third-party providers.

10.3.1 General information about Google and Facebook services

Our website uses various services from Google (Google Ireland Ltd., Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland) and Facebook/Meta (Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd., 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin D02X525, Ireland). At this point you will find general information about these service providers. Specific information can be found in the relevant sections.

The Google marketing services collect and analyse data from visitors to web pages within the scope of our website. The same applies to Facebook. We have no influence on the scope and use of the data by Google/Facebook and accept no responsibility or liability for it. We therefore recommend that, if necessary, you read the data protection policies of Google at https://policies.google.com/privacy and of Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/ einzusehen.

If you have a Google or Facebook account or have registered for a service from these companies, your clicks on ads served by Accounto in Google Search, for example, may be matched with other data. The information may potentially be linked by Google/Facebook to your account and your web and app browser history across devices.

You have the option to adjust the cookie settings on our website, block third-party cookies via your web browser settings or prevent cross-platform tracking. There is also the option to use ad blocker software.

The data collected by Google/Facebook may be transferred by these companies to countries outside Switzerland and the European Economic Area (EEA), in particular to the USA. If you have a Google or Facebook account, you can adjust the privacy settings in your account accordingly.

10.3.2 Google Analytics

Our website uses Google Analytics. This is a service provided by Google Ireland Limited (“Google”), a company incorporated and operated under the laws of Ireland (registration number: 368047) with its registered office at Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland (“Google”). Google Analytics uses cookies to generate information about your use of the website (including your IP address, which is, however, anonymised by Google before being stored so that it can no longer be assigned to you). This information is transferred to a Google server in the USA and stored there.

Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google’s behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google.

Our website also uses the “demographic characteristics” function of Google Analytics. This allows reports to be generated that contain statements about the age, gender and interests of site visitors. This data comes from interest-based advertising from Google as well as visitor data from third-party providers. This data cannot be assigned to a specific person. You can deactivate this function at any time via the ad settings in your Google account or generally prohibit the collection of your data by Google Analytics. You can find more information in Google’s privacy policy at https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/6004245?hl=de

If you do not want your website activity to be available to Google Analytics, you can install the browser add-on to disable Google Analytics: https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/181881?hl=en. This prevents the JavaScript executed on websites (ga.js, analytics.js and dc.js) from sharing activity data with Google Analytics.

The analysis of data by other tools of the website owner is not prevented when you use the add-on. Data may still be sent to the website or other web analytics services.

We only receive anonymous evaluations from Google.

10.3.3 Technologies for advertising purposes

Our website uses the functions of Google Analytics Remarketing in conjunction with the cross-device functions of Google AdWords and Google DoubleClick. This function makes it possible to link the advertising target groups created with Google Analytics Remarketing with the cross-device functions of Google AdWords and Google DoubleClick. In this way, interest-based, personalised advertising messages that have been adapted to you depending on your previous usage and surfing behaviour on one end device (e.g. mobile phone) can also be displayed on another of your end devices (e.g. tablet or PC).

If you have given Google the corresponding consent, Google will link your web and app browsing history with your Google account for this purpose. In this way, the same personalised advertising messages can be displayed on every end device on which you log in with your Google account.

To support this feature, Google Analytics collects Google-authenticated IDs of users, which are temporarily linked to our Google Analytics data to define and create audiences for cross-device ad remarketing.

You can permanently opt out of cross-device remarketing by disabling personalised advertising in your Google account, at https://www.google.com/settings/ads/onweb/.

For more information, please see Google’s privacy policy at https://www.google.com/policies/technologies/ads/.

Our website also uses the online advertising programme Google AdWords.

Within the framework of Google AdWords, we use the so-called conversion tracking. When you click on an ad placed by Google, a cookie is set for conversion tracking. Cookies are small text files that the internet browser stores on your computer. These cookies lose their validity after 30 days at the latest and do not serve to identify you. If you visit our website and the cookie has not yet expired, Google and we can recognise that you have clicked on the ad and have been redirected to this page.

We learn from Google the total number of users who clicked on our ad and were redirected to our website tagged with a conversion tracking tag. However, we do not receive any information with which we can identify you personally.

You can prevent tracking by deactivating the Google conversion tracking cookie via your internet browser under user settings.

For more information, please see Google’s privacy policy at https://www.google.de/policies/privacy/.

Our website additionally uses the visitor action pixel from Facebook, provider is Facebook/Meta (Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd., 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin d02x525, Ireland.

The Facebook Pixel can be used to track the behaviour of page visitors after they have been redirected to our website by clicking on a Facebook ad. This allows the effectiveness of the Facebook ads to be evaluated for statistical and market research purposes and future advertising measures to be optimised. The data collected is anonymous for Accounto, we cannot draw any conclusions about your identity. However, the data is stored and processed by Facebook so that a connection to the respective user profile is possible and Facebook can use the data for its own advertising purposes, in accordance with the Facebook/Meta privacy policy. This allows Facebook to serve ads on Facebook pages as well as outside of Facebook. Accounto cannot influence this use of the data.

You can permanently object to remarketing by deactivating the “Custom Audiences” remarketing function in the ad settings section at https://www.facebook.com/adpreferences/?entry_product=ad_settings_screen. To do this, you must be logged in to Facebook.

If you do not have a Facebook account, you can disable usage-based advertising from Facebook on the European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance website at https://www.youronlinechoices.com/de/praferenzmanagement/.

For more information, please see Facebook’s privacy policy at https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/.

10.3.4 Server log files

We collect certain information via our website in so-called server log files, which your internet browser automatically transmits to us. These include, among other things, the user agent (browser type and version, operating system used), http header information (referrer URL, IP address of the accessing computer), the time of the server request and the login status. These server log files are only merged with other data sources for error analysis.

10.4 Integration of third-party offers / social media

Our digital offerings are networked with third-party functions and systems in a variety of ways, for example by integrating plug-ins from third-party social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Linked, etc. in particular. If you have a user account with these third parties, it may also be possible for them to measure and evaluate your use of our digital offerings. In the process, further personal data, such as IP address, browser settings and other parameters may be transmitted to these third parties and stored there.

We have no control over the use of such personal data collected by third parties and accept no responsibility or liability. Accounto has no detailed knowledge of what data is transmitted to the third parties, where it is transmitted to and whether it is anonymised.

Plugins from YouTube are integrated on our website. The provider is YouTube LLC, 901 Cherry Ave, San Bruno, CA 94066, USA.

The YouTube plugin establishes a connection to the YouTube servers. This tells the YouTube server which of our pages you have visited.

If you are logged into your YouTube account, YouTube can assign your surfing behaviour directly to your personal profile. You can prevent this by logging out of your YouTube user account.

For more information, see YouTube’s privacy policy at https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy.

The legal basis for the integration of external links and the presence in social media according to the DSGVO is our legitimate interest (Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f DSGVO) to offer you these services.

10.5 Other tools

Our website uses the map service Google Maps via an API. If you use the functions of Google Maps, your IP address will be stored by Google and usually transmitted to a Google server in the USA. Accounto has no influence on this data transfer.

You can find more information in Google’s privacy policy: https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/.

We also use Hotjar from Hotjar Limited (Hotjar Ltd, Dragonara Business Centre, 5th Floor, Dragonara Road, Paceville St Julian’s STJ 3141, Malta, Europe) on our website to statistically analyse visitor data. Hotjar is a service that analyses the behaviour and feedback of you as a user on our website through a combination of analytics and feedback tools. We receive reports and visual representations from Hotjar that show us where and how you “move” on our site. Personal data is automatically anonymised and never reaches Hotjar’s servers. This means that you, as a website user, are not personally identified and we still learn a lot about your user behaviour.

For more information, please see Hotjar’s privacy policy: https://www.hotjar.com/legal/policies/privacy/.

Last updated: 1. September 2023

Translated with https://www.deepl.com/. For the original version, see https://accounto.ch/datenschutz/.