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Privacy Policy

With this privacy policy we provide information about the processing of personal data in connection with our activities and operations, including our website under the domain name fisg.ch. In particular, we explain which personal data we process for which purpose, in which manner and in which location. We also provide information about the rights of individuals whose data we process.

We have drafted this privacy policy in German. If it is published in another language, the German-language privacy policy remains authoritative.

For individual or additional activities and operations we may publish further privacy policies or other information on data protection.

We are subject to Swiss law as well as to any applicable foreign law, in particular the law of the European Union (EU) with the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

By decision of 26 July 2000, the European Commission recognised that Swiss data protection law ensures an adequate level of data protection. By report of 15 January 2024, the European Commission confirmed this adequacy decision.

 

1. Contact addresses

The controller within the meaning of data protection law is:

Forschungsinstitut für Spiritualität und Gesundheit
Weissensteinstrasse 30
4900 Langenthal
Switzerland

info(at)rish.ch

In individual cases, third parties may be responsible for the processing of personal data, or joint responsibility with third parties may exist. We are happy to provide data subjects with information about the respective responsibility upon request.

 

2. Terms and legal bases

2.1 Terms

Data subject: Natural person about whom we process personal data.

Personal data: Any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person.

Sensitive personal data: Data on trade union, political, religious or ideological views and activities, data on health, the intimate sphere or affiliation with an ethnicity or race, genetic data, biometric data uniquely identifying a natural person, data on administrative and criminal proceedings or sanctions, and data on social assistance measures.

Processing: Any handling of personal data, irrespective of the means and procedures applied, for example retrieving, matching, adapting, archiving, storing, reading out, disclosing, obtaining, recording, collecting, deleting, revealing, ordering, organising, saving, altering, disseminating, linking, destroying and using personal data.

European Economic Area (EEA): Member States of the European Union (EU) as well as the Principality of Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway.

2.2 Legal bases

We process personal data in accordance with Swiss law, in particular the Federal Act on Data Protection (Data Protection Act, FADP) and the Ordinance on Data Protection (Data Protection Ordinance, DPO).

Insofar and to the extent that the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies, we process personal data on the basis of at least one of the following legal bases:

  • Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b GDPR for the necessary processing of personal data for the performance of a contract with the data subject as well as for pre-contractual measures.
  • Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f GDPR for the necessary processing of personal data in order to safeguard legitimate interests – including the legitimate interests of third parties – provided that the fundamental freedoms, fundamental rights and interests of the data subject do not override them. Such interests are in particular the permanent, people-friendly, secure and reliable performance of our activities and operations, ensuring information security, protection against misuse, the enforcement of our own legal claims and compliance with Swiss law.
  • Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c GDPR for the necessary processing of personal data in order to comply with a legal obligation to which we are subject under any applicable law of member states in the European Economic Area (EEA).
  • Art. 6 para. 1 lit. e GDPR for the necessary processing of personal data for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest.
  • Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a GDPR for the processing of personal data with the consent of the data subject.
  • Art. 6 para. 1 lit. d GDPR for the necessary processing of personal data in order to protect the vital interests of the data subject or of another natural person.
  • Art. 9 para. 2 et seq. GDPR for the processing of special categories of personal data, in particular with the consent of the data subjects.

The European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) refers to the processing of sensitive personal data as the processing of special categories of personal data (Art. 9 GDPR).

 

3. Nature, scope and purpose of the processing of personal data

We process the personal data that are necessary in order to carry out our activities and operations in a permanent, people-friendly, secure and reliable manner. The personal data processed may in particular fall into the categories of browser and device data, content data, communication data, metadata, usage data, master data including inventory and contact data, location data, transaction data, contract data and payment data. The personal data may also constitute sensitive personal data.

We also process personal data that we receive from third parties, obtain from publicly accessible sources or collect in the course of our activities and operations, provided that such processing is permitted.

Where necessary, we process personal data with the consent of the data subjects. In many cases we may process personal data without consent, for example in order to fulfil legal obligations or to safeguard overriding interests. We may also ask data subjects for their consent even where their consent is not required.

We process personal data for the period necessary for the respective purpose. We anonymise or delete personal data in particular depending on statutory retention and limitation periods.

 

4. Automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may process personal data in an automated manner or use Artificial Intelligence for the processing of personal data.

We may use profiling in order to evaluate certain personal aspects relating to data subjects in an automated manner. Profiling serves, for example, to analyse or predict interests, behaviour or personal preferences.

In individual cases we provide information about decisions that are based exclusively on the automated processing of personal data and that have legal consequences for the data subjects or significantly affect them (automated individual decisions).

 

5. Disclosure of personal data

We may disclose personal data to third parties, have them processed by third parties or process them jointly with third parties. Such third parties may be, for example, specialised providers whose services we use. Such third parties may in turn disclose personal data to third parties.

In the course of our activities and operations we may in particular disclose personal data to banks and other financial service providers, authorities, educational and research institutions, consultants and lawyers, accounting and fiduciary service providers, debt collection companies, interest groups, IT service providers, cooperation partners, credit and business information agencies, logistics and shipping companies, marketing and advertising agencies, media, parent, sister and subsidiary companies, organisations and associations, social institutions, telecommunications companies, insurers and payment service providers.

 

6. Communication

We process personal data in order to be able to communicate with individuals as well as with authorities, organisations and companies. In doing so we process in particular data that a data subject transmits to us when making contact, for example by postal mail or e-mail. We may store such data in an address book or with comparable tools.

Third parties who transmit data about other persons to us are legally obliged to ensure the data protection of these data subjects on their own responsibility. In particular, they must ensure that they are permitted to transmit such data and also guarantee the accuracy of the transmitted data.

We use selected services from suitable providers in order to enable and improve communication with individuals and other communication partners. With such services we may also manage and otherwise process the data of data subjects beyond direct communication, for example in connection with orders, services, projects and resource planning.

In particular, we use:

 

7. Data security

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures in order to ensure a level of data security appropriate to the respective risk. With our measures we ensure in particular the confidentiality, availability, traceability and integrity of the personal data processed, without, however, being able to guarantee absolute data security.

Access to our website and our other digital presence takes place by means of transport encryption (SSL / TLS, in particular with the Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, abbreviated HTTPS). Most browsers warn before visiting a website without transport encryption.

Our digital communication is subject – like in principle all digital communication – to mass surveillance without cause or suspicion by security authorities in Switzerland, in the rest of Europe, in the United States of America (USA) and in other countries. We have no direct influence on the corresponding processing of personal data by intelligence services, police authorities and other security authorities. Nor can we rule out that a data subject is subject to targeted surveillance.

 

8. Personal data abroad

We generally process personal data in Switzerland and in the European Economic Area (EEA). However, we may also export or transfer personal data to other countries, in particular in order to process them there or have them processed there.

We may export personal data to all countries on earth and elsewhere in the universe, provided that the law there ensures an adequate level of data protection in accordance with a decision of the Swiss Federal Council and – insofar and to the extent that the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applies – also in accordance with a decision of the European Commission.

We may transfer personal data to countries whose law does not ensure an adequate level of data protection, provided that data protection is ensured for other reasons, in particular on the basis of standard data protection clauses or with other appropriate safeguards. By way of exception, we may export personal data to countries without an adequate or appropriate level of data protection if the special data protection requirements for doing so are met, for example the explicit consent of the data subjects or a direct connection with the conclusion or performance of a contract. We are happy to provide data subjects with information about any safeguards upon request, or to provide a copy of any safeguards.

 

9. Rights of data subjects

9.1 Data protection claims

We grant data subjects all rights under applicable law. Data subjects have in particular the following rights:

  • Information: Data subjects may request information as to whether we process personal data about them and, if so, which personal data these are. Data subjects also receive the information necessary to assert their data protection claims and to ensure transparency. This includes the personal data processed as such, but also, among other things, information on the purpose of processing, the retention period, any disclosure or export of data to other countries and the origin of the personal data.
  • Rectification and restriction: Data subjects may have inaccurate personal data corrected, incomplete data completed and the processing of their data restricted.
  • Opportunity to express their own point of view and human review: In the case of decisions that are based exclusively on the automated processing of personal data and that have legal consequences for them or significantly affect them (automated individual decisions), data subjects may express their own point of view and request a review by a human being.
  • Deletion and objection: Data subjects may have personal data deleted («right to be forgotten») and object to the processing of their data with effect for the future.
  • Data release and data portability: Data subjects may request the release of personal data or the transfer of their data to another controller.

We may defer, restrict or refuse the exercise of the rights of data subjects within the legally permissible scope. We may inform data subjects of any conditions that must be met for the exercise of their data protection claims. For example, we may refuse to provide information in whole or in part with reference to confidentiality obligations, overriding interests or the protection of other persons. For example, we may also refuse the deletion of personal data in whole or in part, in particular with reference to statutory retention obligations.

By way of exception, we may charge costs for the exercise of these rights. We inform data subjects in advance of any such costs.

We are obliged to identify data subjects who request information or assert other rights by means of appropriate measures. Data subjects are obliged to cooperate.

9.2 Legal protection

Data subjects have the right to enforce their data protection claims through the courts or to file a report or complaint with a data protection supervisory authority.

The data protection supervisory authority for private controllers and federal bodies in Switzerland is the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC).

European data protection supervisory authorities are organised as members of the European Data Protection Board (EDPB). In some member states of the European Economic Area (EEA) the data protection supervisory authorities have a federal structure, in particular in Germany.

 

10. Use of the website

10.1 Cookies

We may use cookies. Cookies – our own cookies (first-party cookies) as well as cookies of third parties whose services we use (third-party cookies) – are data that are stored in the browser. Such stored data need not be limited to traditional cookies in text form.

Cookies may be stored in the browser temporarily as «session cookies» or for a specific period as so-called permanent cookies. «Session cookies» are deleted automatically when the browser is closed. Permanent cookies have a specific storage period. Cookies make it possible in particular to recognise a browser on the next visit to our website and thereby, for example, to measure the reach of our website. However, permanent cookies may also be used for online marketing, for example.

Cookies can be deactivated, restricted or deleted in whole or in part in the browser settings at any time. The browser settings often also allow automated deletion and other management of cookies. Without cookies, our website may no longer be available to its full extent. We actively request explicit consent to the use of cookies – at least insofar and to the extent required under applicable law.

For cookies used for measuring success and reach or for advertising, a general objection («opt-out») is possible for numerous services via AdChoices (Digital Advertising Alliance of Canada), the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI), YourAdChoices (Digital Advertising Alliance) or Your Online Choices (European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance, EDAA).

10.2 Logging

For every access to our website and our other digital presence we may log at least the following information, provided that it is determined or transmitted to our digital infrastructure by default during such access: date and time including time zone, IP address, access status (HTTP status code), operating system including user interface and version, browser including language and version, the individual subpage of our website accessed including the volume of data transferred, the web page last accessed in the same browser window (referer or referrer).

We log such information, which may also constitute personal data, in log files. The information is necessary in order to be able to provide our digital presence permanently, in a people-friendly manner and reliably. The information is further necessary in order to be able to ensure data security – including by third parties or with the help of third parties.

10.3 Tracking pixels

We may embed tracking pixels in our digital presence. Tracking pixels are also referred to as web beacons. Tracking pixels – including those of third parties whose services we use – are usually small, invisible images or scripts written in JavaScript that are retrieved automatically when our digital presence is accessed. Tracking pixels can record at least the same information as logging in log files.

 

11. Notifications and messages

11.1 Measurement of success and reach

Notifications and messages may contain web links or tracking pixels that record whether an individual message was opened and which web links were clicked. Such web links and tracking pixels may also record the use of notifications and messages in a personally identifiable manner. We need this statistical recording of usage for the measurement of success and reach in order to be able to send notifications and messages effectively and in a people-friendly as well as permanent, secure and reliable manner, based on the needs and reading habits of the recipients.

11.2 Consent and objection

You must in principle consent to the use of your e-mail address and your other contact addresses, unless the use is permitted for other legal reasons. For obtaining a double-confirmed consent we may use the «double opt-in» procedure. In this case you receive a message with instructions for the double confirmation. We may log the consents obtained, including IP address and timestamp, for evidentiary and security reasons.

You may in principle object at any time to receiving notifications and messages such as newsletters. With such an objection you may at the same time object to the statistical recording of usage for the measurement of success and reach. Necessary notifications and messages in connection with our activities and operations remain reserved.

11.3 Service providers for notifications and messages

We send notifications and messages with the help of specialised service providers.

In particular, we use:

 

12. Social media

We are present on social media platforms and other online platforms in order to be able to communicate with interested persons and to provide information about our activities and operations. In connection with such platforms, personal data may also be processed outside Switzerland and the European Economic Area (EEA).

The general terms and conditions and terms of use as well as privacy policies and other provisions of the individual operators of such platforms also apply in each case. These provisions provide information in particular about the rights of data subjects directly vis-à-vis the respective platform, which include, for example, the right to information.

 

13. Third-party services

We use services of specialised third parties in order to be able to carry out our activities and operations permanently, in a people-friendly, secure and reliable manner. With such services we can, among other things, embed functions and content in our website. In the case of such embedding, the services used record the IP addresses of users at least temporarily for technically compelling reasons.

For necessary security-related, statistical and technical purposes, third parties whose services we use may process data in connection with our activities and operations in aggregated, anonymised or pseudonymised form. This concerns, for example, performance or usage data required in order to be able to offer the respective service.

In particular, we use:

13.1 Digital infrastructure

We use services of specialised third parties in order to be able to make use of the digital infrastructure required in connection with our activities and operations. This includes, for example, hosting and storage services of selected providers.

In particular, we use:

13.2 Automation and integration of apps and services

We use specialised platforms in order to integrate and connect existing third-party apps and services. With such «no-code» platforms we can also automate processes and activities with third-party apps and services.

In particular, we use:

13.3 Online collaboration

We use third-party services in order to enable online collaboration. In addition to this privacy policy, any directly visible terms of the services used, such as terms of use or privacy policies, also apply in each case.

In particular, we use:

13.4 Maps

We use third-party services in order to be able to embed maps in our website.

In particular, we use:

13.5 Digital content

We use services of specialised third parties in order to be able to embed digital content in our website. Digital content is in particular image and video material, music and podcasts.

In particular, we use:

 

14. Measurement of success and reach

We seek to measure the success and reach of our activities and operations. In this context we may also measure the effect of references by third parties or examine how different parts or versions of our digital presence are used («A/B testing» method). Based on the results of the measurement of success and reach we can in particular correct errors, strengthen popular content or make improvements.

For the measurement of success and reach, the IP addresses of individual users are recorded in most cases. In this case, IP addresses are generally truncated («IP masking») in order to follow the principle of data minimisation through the corresponding pseudonymisation.

Cookies may be used and user profiles may be created in connection with the measurement of success and reach. Any user profiles created include, for example, the individual pages visited or the content viewed on our digital presence, information on the size of the screen or the browser window and the – at least approximate – location. In principle, any user profiles are created exclusively in pseudonymised form and are not used to identify individual users. Individual third-party services at which users are logged in may possibly assign the use of our online offering to the user account or user profile with the respective service.

In particular, we use:

 

15. Concluding notes on the privacy policy

We created this privacy policy with the privacy policy generator of Datenschutzpartner .

We may update this privacy policy at any time. We provide information about updates by publishing the current privacy policy on our website.

Note on this English version: This text is a machine translation of the German-language privacy policy. It is provided for convenience only. In the event of any discrepancy, the German-language version is authoritative and legally binding.

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