Data protection information for the use of the whistleblowing system
We take data protection and confidentiality very seriously and adhere to the provisions of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as well as current national data protection regulations. Please read this data protection information carefully before submitting a report.
Responsible party and data protection officer
The party responsible for data protection in the whistleblowing system is:
Bartels-Langness Handelsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, Alte Weide 7-13, D-24116 Kiel, Telephone: +49 431 16960, Fax: +49 431 1696120, Email: info@bela.de. The data protection officer of Bartels-Langness Handelsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG can be contacted at the above address or by email at: Datenschutz@bela.de.
Purpose and legal foundation of the whistleblowing system
The whistleblowing system (BKMS® System) serves for securely and confidentially receiving, processing and managing reports concerning violations of the compliance rules. The processing of personal data within the framework of the BKMS® System system is based on the legitimate interest of our company in discovering and preventing abuses and thereby averting damage for the company, its employees and customers.
The whistleblowing system is operated by a specialised company, EQS Group GmbH, Bayreuther Str. 35, 10789 Berlin in Germany, on behalf of Bartels-Langness Handelsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG.
The legal basis for the processing of personal data is Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).
Processing of personal data
Personal data and information entered into the whistleblowing system are stored in a database of a high security data centre operated by EQS Group GmbH. Only the competent and authorised employees of Bartels-Langness Handelsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG have access to the data. EQS Group GmbH and other third parties do not have access to the data. This is ensured in the certified procedure through extensive technical and organisational measures.
All data are stored encrypted with multiple levels of password protection according to a system of permissions so that access is restricted to a very small selection of expressly responsible and authorised persons in our company.
Type of personal data collected
Use of the whistleblowing system takes place on a voluntary basis. If you submit a report via the whistleblowing system, we collect the following personal data and information:
- Your name, if you choose to reveal your identity,
- where you are employed, if you choose to reveal this information and
- the names and other personal data of persons whom you list in your report, if applicable.
Confidential handling of reports
Incoming reports are received by a small selection of expressly competent and authorised specially trained employees of the compliance organisation of Bartels-Langness Handelsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG and are always handled confidentially. The employees of the Bartels-Langness Handelsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG compliance organisation evaluate the matter and perform any further investigation required by the specific case.
During the processing of a report or the conducting of a special investigation, it may become necessary to forward reports to other employees/authorities. We will always ensure that the applicable data protection regulations are complied with when sharing reports.
All persons who receive access to the data are obligated to maintain confidentiality.
Information about the accused
We are legally obligated to inform accused parties of any reports received against them as soon as the disclosure of this information no longer jeopardises the investigation. Your identity as a whistleblower, if you choose to reveal it and as far as legally permissible, will not be disclosed.
Your rights as a data subject
Pursuant to European data protection legislation, you and the persons named in the report have a right of access, rectification, erasure and restriction of processing and a right to object the processing of your personal data. If the right to object to the processing of the personal data is invoked, the necessity of the stored data for the examination of a report will be evaluated immediately. Data that are no longer needed will be deleted at once. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority.
Retention period of personal data
Personal data are retained for as long as necessary to clarify the situation and perform a final assessment or for as long as a legitimate interest exists on the part of the company or retention is required by law. After the report processing is concluded, the data will be anonymised and deleted in accordance with statutory requirements.
Use of the whistleblowing system
Communication between your computer and the whistleblowing system takes place over an encrypted connection (SSL). Your IP address will not be stored during your use of the whistleblowing system. In order to maintain the connection between your computer and BKMS® System, a cookie is stored on your computer that merely contains the session ID (a so-called session cookie). This cookie is only valid until the end of your session and expires when you close your browser.
It is possible to set up a secured postbox within the whistleblowing system with an individually chosen pseudonym/user name and password. This allows you to send reports either by name or in an anonymous, safe way. This system only stores data inside the whistleblowing system, which makes it particularly secure. It is not a form of regular email communication.
Note on sending attachments
When submitting a report or an addition, you can simultaneously send attachments. If you wish to submit an anonymous report, please take note of the following security advice: Files may contain hidden personal data that could jeopardise your anonymity. Please remove all such information before sending a file. If you are unable to remove this data or are uncertain about how to do so, copy the text of your attachment into your report text or send the printed document anonymously to the address listed in the footer, citing the reference number received at the end of the reporting process.
Version: April 2021