Privacy Policy

Cookie Settings

1. Introduction

With the following information, we would like to give you, as the "data subject", an overview of how we process your personal data and your rights under data protection laws. It is generally possible to use our website without entering personal data. However, if you wish to use special services offered by our company via our website, it may be necessary to process personal data. If the processing of personal data is necessary and there is no legal basis for such processing, we will generally obtain your consent. 

The processing of personal data, such as your name, address or email address, is always carried out in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and in compliance with the country-specific data protection regulations applicable to Point Blank Research & Consultancy GmbH. With this privacy policy, we would like to inform you about the scope and purpose of the personal data we collect, use and process.

As the controller responsible for processing, we have implemented numerous technical and organisational measures to ensure the most complete protection possible for the personal data processed via this website. Nevertheless, internet-based data transmissions can generally have security gaps, meaning that absolute protection cannot be guaranteed. For this reason, you are free to transmit personal data to us by alternative means, such as by telephone or post.

You too can take simple and easy-to-implement measures to protect yourself against unauthorised access to your data by third parties. We would therefore like to take this opportunity to give you some tips on how to handle your data securely: 

- Protect your account (login, user or customer account) and your IT system (computer, laptop, tablet or mobile device) with secure passwords.
- Only you should have access to the passwords.
- Ensure that you only ever use your passwords for one account (login, user or customer account).
- Do not use the same password for different websites, applications or online services.
- Especially when using publicly accessible IT systems or those shared with other people, you should always log out after each session on a website, application or online service. 

Passwords should consist of at least 12 characters and be chosen so that they cannot be easily guessed. Therefore, they should not contain common words from everyday life, your own name or the names of relatives, but should include upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters.

2. Responsible

The controller within the meaning of the GDPR is:

Point Blank Research & Consultancy GmbH
Krausenstraße 8, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Telephone: +49 30 3474720 10
Fax: +49 30 3474720 26
Email: info@point-blank.net

Representatives of the controller: Tobias Wenker; Barbara Lang; Christoph Welter; Dr Gerhard Keim

3. Data protection officer

You can contact the data protection officer as follows:

Compliant Solutions GmbH
Telephone: +49 (0)69 256286600
Email: ds.pointblank@cb-sol.de 

You can contact our data protection officer directly at any time with any questions or suggestions regarding data protection.

4. Definitions

The privacy policy is based on the terminology used by the European legislators and regulators when enacting the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Our privacy policy is intended to be easy to read and understand for the general public as well as for our customers and business partners. To ensure this, we would like to explain the terminology used in advance.

We use the following terms in this privacy policy, among others:

1. Personal data

Personal data is any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. A natural person is considered identifiable if they can be identified directly or indirectly, in particular by association with an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier or one or more special characteristics that express the physical, physiological, genetic, psychological, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person.

2. Data subject

A data subject is any identified or identifiable natural person whose personal data is processed by the controller (our company).

3. Processing

Processing means any operation or set of operations which is performed on personal data or on sets of personal data, whether or not by automated means, such as collection, recording, organisation, structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, distribution or any other form of provision, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure or destruction.

4. Restriction of processing

Restriction of processing is the marking of stored personal data with the aim of limiting its future processing.

5. Profiling

Profiling is any form of automated processing of personal data consisting of the use of such personal data to evaluate certain personal aspects relating to a natural person, in particular to analyse or predict aspects concerning that natural person's performance at work, economic situation, health, personal preferences, interests, reliability, behaviour, location or movements.

6. Pseudonymisation

Pseudonymisation is the processing of personal data in such a manner that the personal data can no longer be attributed to a specific data subject without the use of additional information, provided that such additional information is kept separately and is subject to technical and organisational measures to ensure that the personal data is not attributed to an identified or identifiable natural person.

7. Processor

A processor is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body that processes personal data on behalf of the controller.

8. Recipient

A recipient is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or another body to which personal data are disclosed, whether a third party or not. However, public authorities which may receive personal data in the framework of a particular inquiry in accordance with Union or Member State law shall not be regarded as recipients.

9. Third party

A third party is a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or body other than the data subject, controller, processor and persons who, under the direct authority of the controller or processor, are authorised to process personal data.

10. Consent

Consent is any freely given, specific, informed and unambiguous indication of the data subject's wishes by which he or she, by a statement or by a clear affirmative action, signifies agreement to the processing of personal data relating to him or her.

5. Legal basis for processing

Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR (in conjunction with Section 25 (1) TDDDG (formerly TTDSG)) serves as the legal basis for our company for processing operations in which we obtain consent for a specific processing purpose.

 If the processing of personal data is necessary for the performance of a contract to which you are a party, as is the case, for example, with processing operations necessary for the delivery of goods or the provision of other services or consideration, the processing is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b) GDPR. The same applies to processing operations that are necessary for the implementation of pre-contractual measures, for example in cases of enquiries about our products or services.

If our company is subject to a legal obligation that requires the processing of personal data, such as for the fulfilment of tax obligations, the processing is based on Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c) GDPR. 

In rare cases, the processing of personal data may be necessary to protect the vital interests of the data subject or another natural person. This would be the case, for example, if a visitor to our premises were injured and his name, age, health insurance details or other vital information had to be passed on to a doctor, hospital or other third party. In this case, the processing would be based on Art. 6(1)(d) GDPR.

Finally, processing operations could be based on Art. 6 (1) lit. f) GDPR. This legal basis applies to processing operations that are not covered by any of the above legal bases if the processing is necessary to safeguard a legitimate interest of our company or a third party, provided that the interests, fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject do not prevail. We are permitted to carry out such processing operations in particular because they have been specifically mentioned by the European legislator. In this respect, the legislator took the view that a legitimate interest could be assumed if you are a customer of our company (Recital 47, sentence 2 of the GDPR).

6. Cookies

6.1 General information about cookies

Cookies are small files that your browser automatically creates and that are stored on your IT system (laptop, tablet, smartphone, etc.) when you visit our website.

The cookie stores information that is related to the specific device used. However, this does not mean that we immediately become aware of your identity.

The use of cookies serves to make the use of our website more pleasant for you. For example, we use so-called session cookies to recognise that you have already visited individual pages of our website. These are automatically deleted after you leave our site.

In addition, we also use temporary cookies to optimise user-friendliness, which are stored on your device for a specific period of time. If you visit our site again to use our services, it will automatically recognise that you have already been with us and what entries and settings you have made so that you do not have to enter them again. 

On the other hand, we use cookies to statistically record the use of our website and to evaluate our offer for you for the purpose of optimisation. These cookies enable us to automatically recognise that you have already visited our website when you visit it again. The cookies set in this way are automatically deleted after a defined period of time. The respective storage period of the cookies can be found in the settings of the consent tool used.

6.2 Legal basis for the use of cookies

The data processed by the cookies, which is necessary for the proper functioning of the website, is therefore necessary to safeguard our legitimate interests and those of third parties in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. f) GDPR.

For all other cookies, you have given your consent in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (a) GDPR via our opt-in cookie banner.

7. Newsletter dispatch

7.1 Advertising newsletter

Our website offers you the opportunity to subscribe to our company newsletter. The personal data transmitted to us when ordering the newsletter is determined by the input mask used for this purpose.

We inform our customers and business partners about our offers at regular intervals by means of a newsletter. You can only receive our company's newsletter if

1. you have a valid email address and
2. you have registered to receive the newsletter. 

For legal reasons, a confirmation email will be sent to the email address you entered for the first time for the newsletter dispatch using the double opt-in procedure. This confirmation email serves to verify that you, as the owner of the email address, have authorised the receipt of the newsletter.

When you register for the newsletter, we also store the IP address assigned by your Internet service provider (ISP) to the IT system you used at the time of registration, as well as the date and time of registration. The collection of this data is necessary in order to be able to trace any (possible) misuse of your email address at a later date and therefore serves our legal protection.

The personal data collected when you subscribe to the newsletter will be used exclusively for the purpose of sending our newsletter. Furthermore, subscribers to the newsletter may be informed by email if this is necessary for the operation of the newsletter service or for registration in this regard, as may be the case in the event of changes to the newsletter offer or changes to the technical conditions. The personal data collected as part of the newsletter service will not be passed on to third parties. You can unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time. The consent you have given us to store your personal data for the purpose of sending the newsletter can be revoked at any time. For the purpose of revoking your consent, there is a corresponding link in every newsletter. Furthermore, you can also unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time directly on our website or inform us in another way.

The legal basis for data processing for the purpose of sending the newsletter is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a) GDPR.

7.2 Mailchimp

Our email newsletters are sent via the technical service provider Intuit Inc., The Rocket Science Group, LLC d/b/a MailChimp, 675 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, Suite 5000, Atlanta, GA 30308, USA, to whom we pass on the data you provided when registering for the newsletter. This transfer takes place within the framework of order processing by MailChimp. Please note that your data is usually transferred to a MailChimp server in the USA and stored there.

MailChimp uses this information to send and statistically evaluate the newsletters on our behalf. For evaluation purposes, the emails sent contain so-called web beacons or tracking pixels, which are single-pixel image files stored on our website. This allows us to determine whether a newsletter message has been opened and which links, if any, have been clicked on. Technical information is also collected (e.g. the time of retrieval, the IP address, the browser type and the operating system). This data is used exclusively for statistical analysis of newsletter campaigns. The results of these analyses can be used to better tailor future newsletters to the interests of the recipients.

The use of the mailing service provider is based on Art. 6 (1) lit. f) GDPR and a data processing agreement pursuant to Art. 28 GDPR. The legal basis for the processing of your personal data in connection with the newsletter is your consent given in the "double opt-in" procedure within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a) GDPR. Consent can be revoked at any time.

Furthermore, MailChimp may use this data itself in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR on the basis of its own legitimate interest in the needs-based design and optimisation of the service and for market research purposes, for example to determine the countries from which the recipients come. However, MailChimp does not use the data of our newsletter recipients to contact them itself or to pass it on to third parties.

If you wish to object to the aforementioned data processing, you must unsubscribe from the newsletter.

This US company is certified under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework. This means that an adequacy decision pursuant to Art. 45 GDPR has been made, so that personal data may be transferred without further guarantees or additional measures.

You can view MailChimp's privacy policy here: https://mailchimp.com/legal/privacy/

8. Our activities on social networks

We have our own pages on social networks so that we can communicate with you there and inform you about our services. When you visit one of our social media pages, we are jointly responsible with the provider of the respective social media platform for the processing operations triggered by this, within the meaning of Art. 26 GDPR.

We are not the original provider of these pages, but merely use them within the scope of the options offered to us by the respective providers.

As a precautionary measure, we would therefore like to point out that your data may also be processed outside the European Union or the European Economic Area. Use may therefore involve data protection risks for you, as it may be more difficult to protect your rights, e.g. to information, deletion, objection, etc., and processing on social networks is often carried out directly for advertising purposes or to analyse user behaviour by the providers, without us being able to influence this. If usage profiles are created by the provider, cookies are often used or your usage behaviour is assigned to your own member profile on social networks.

The processing of personal data described above is carried out in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR on the basis of our legitimate interest and the legitimate interest of the respective provider in communicating with you in a modern way and informing you about our services. If you have to give your consent to data processing as a user to the respective providers, the legal basis refers to Art. 6 (1) lit. a) GDPR in conjunction with Art. 7 GDPR.

As we do not have access to the providers' databases, we would like to point out that it is best to exercise your rights (e.g. to information, correction, deletion, etc.) directly with the respective provider. Further information on the processing of your data in social networks is listed below for each of the social network providers we use:

8.1 LinkedIn

(Joint) controller for data processing in Europe:
LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland 

Privacy policy:
https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy

9. Your rights as a data subject

9.1 Right to confirmation

You have the right to request confirmation from us as to whether personal data concerning you is being processed.

9.2 Right to information Art. 15 GDPR

You have the right to obtain from us, free of charge, information about the personal data stored about you and a copy of this data in accordance with the statutory provisions.

9.3 Right to rectification Art. 16 GDPR

You have the right to request the rectification of inaccurate personal data concerning you. Furthermore, you have the right to request the completion of incomplete personal data, taking into account the purposes of the processing.

9.4 Erasure Art. 17 GDPR

You have the right to request that we erase personal data concerning you without undue delay, provided that one of the reasons specified by law applies and that the processing or storage is not necessary.

9.5 Restriction of processing Art. 18 GDPR

You have the right to request that we restrict processing if one of the legal requirements is met.

9.6 Data portability Art. 20 GDPR

You have the right to receive the personal data concerning you that you have provided to us in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format. You also have the right to transmit this data to another controller without hindrance from us, to whom the personal data has been provided, provided that 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 using automated means, unless the processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in us.

Furthermore, when exercising your right to data portability pursuant to Art. 20(1) GDPR, you have the right to have the personal data transmitted directly from one controller to another, where technically feasible and provided that this does not adversely affect the rights and freedoms of others. 

9.7 Objection Art. 21 GDPR

You have the right to object at any time, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to the processing of personal data concerning you which is carried out on the basis of Article 6(1)(e) (data processing in the public interest) or (f) (data processing based on a balancing of interests) of the GDPR.

This also applies to profiling based on these provisions within the meaning of Art. 4 No. 4 GDPR.

If you object, we will no longer process your personal data unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing that override your interests, rights and freedoms, or unless the processing serves to assert, exercise or defend legal claims.

In individual cases, we process personal data for direct marketing purposes. You can object to the processing of personal data for such marketing purposes at any time. This also applies to profiling insofar as it is related to such direct marketing. If you object to us processing your data for direct marketing purposes, we will no longer process your personal data for these purposes.

In addition, you have the right to object, on grounds relating to your particular situation, to the processing of personal data concerning you that we carry out for scientific or historical research purposes or for statistical purposes in accordance with Article 89(1) of the GDPR, unless such processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest.

You are free to exercise your right to object in relation to the use of information society services, notwithstanding Directive 2002/58/EC, by means of automated procedures using technical specifications.

9.8 Revocation of consent under data protection law

You have the right to withdraw your consent to the processing of personal data at any time with effect for the future.

9.9 Complaint to a supervisory authority

You have the right to complain to a supervisory authority responsible for data protection about our processing of personal data.

10. Routine storage, deletion and blocking of personal data

We process and store your personal data only for the period necessary to achieve the purpose of storage or as provided for by the legal provisions to which our company is subject.

If the storage purpose no longer applies or a prescribed storage period expires, the personal data will be routinely blocked or deleted in accordance with the statutory provisions.

11. Duration of storage of personal data

The criterion for the duration of storage of personal data is the respective statutory retention period. After expiry of this period, the corresponding data is routinely deleted, provided that it is no longer required for the fulfilment or initiation of a contract.

12. Up-to-dateness and changes to the privacy policy

This privacy policy is currently valid and was last updated in January 2026.

Due to the further development of our website and offers or due to changes in legal or regulatory requirements, it may be necessary to amend this privacy policy. You can access and print out the current privacy policy at any time on the website at "https://point-blank.net/privacy-policy".

This privacy policy was created with the support of the data protection software: easyDSGVO.