YouTube notice

For the YouTube platform provided on this site, the University of Stuttgart uses the technical platform and the services of Google Ireland Limited, headquartered in Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. The authorized delivery partner of Google Ireland Limited in accordance with § 5 Paragraph 1 NetzDG in Germany is Google Germany GmbH, - legal department -, ABC-Straße 19, 20354 Hamburg.

We wish to inform you that you are using the YouTube platform provided on this site and its functions under your own responsibility. This applies to the use of the interactive functions in particular (for example share, rate, comment, integrate).

1. Data which is processed by YouTube

Information concerning which data is processed by YouTube and for what purposes can be found in the data protection declaration of YouTube: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=de&gl=de 

Google Ireland Limited has undertaken to comply with the principles of the EU-US Privacy Shield. More information can be found via the following link: 

https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt000000001L5AAI&status=Active 

The University of Stuttgart has no control over the scope of the data which is processed by YouTube, the type of processing and the use or disclosure of the said data to third parties. The University of Stuttgart also does not have any effective control options in this regard.

When using YouTube, your personal data will be recorded, transferred, saved, disclosed and used by Google Ireland Limited and will then, regardless of your place of residence, be transferred to the United States and any other country in which Google Ireland Limited maintains a commercial presence and will be saved and used there.

On the one hand during this process, YouTube processes your data which you have provided voluntarily, such as your name and user name, email address and telephone number.

On the other hand, YouTube also evaluates the content which you have shared, what topics are of interest to you and processes confidential messages which you send to other users directly and can determine your location on the basis of GPS data and information concerning wireless networks or via your IP address in order to send you advertising or other content.

For the purposes of evaluation, Google Ireland uses analysis tools such as Google Analytics in certain cases. The University of Stuttgart has no influence over the use of such tools by Google Ireland Limited and has also not been informed of such potential use. Should such tools be used by YouTube for the account of the University of Stuttgart, we have not requested or approved such use, nor have we supported this in any way. The data which is gathered during the analysis is also not made available to the University of Stuttgart. Only certain non-personal information concerning the YouTube activity, ie the extent of a video is viewable by the University of Stuttgart via its account. Furthermore, it is not possible for the University of Stuttgart to prevent or suspend the use of such tools in its YouTube account.

YouTube is then informed when you view content for example, even if you have not created an account. This so-called “log data” can consist of the IP address, the browser type, the operating system, information concerning the previously accessed website and the sites visited by you, your location, your cellphone provider, the end device used by you (including device ID and application ID), the search terms used by you and cookie information.

Via YouTube buttons or widgets which are integrated into websites and by using cookies, it is possible for YouTube to record your visits to these websites and to assign such visits to your YouTube profile, should you hold one. On the basis of this data, content or advertising can be tailored to you.

As Google Ireland Limited is a European provider, it is bound by European data protection regulations. For example, this concerns your rights of information, the blocking or erasure of data or the option of objecting to the use of usage data for advertising purposes.

You have the option of restricting the processing of your data under the general settings under the point “process and data protection”. In addition, with mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers), you can restrict the access of YouTube to contact and calendar data, photos, location data under the settings options there. However, this depends on the operating system being used.

Further information concerning these points can be found on the following YouTube support site:

https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2801895?hl=de

Information concerning the manner in which YouTube and Google can trace you, as well as the collected data can be found here:

https://myactivity.google.com/?utm_source=my-account&utm_medium=&utm_campaign=my-acct-promo

Information concerning the available personalization and data protection settings can be found here (with additional references):

https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2801895?hl=de

You also have the option of requesting details from Google services such as YouTube relating to the information saved about you:

https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/162744?hl=de 

2. Data processed by the University of Stuttgart

The University of Stuttgart also processes your data. However, we ourselves do not gather any data relating to your YouTube account or your YouTube usage behavior. The data provided by you to YouTube, in particular your username and the content published under your account is however processed by us when we share your videos in our own channel with your agreement. For example, this can be the case if you work as a researcher or employee at the University of Stuttgart or also for external research institutions and have produced a relevant video in the course of your work. Any data which you publish and distribute in YouTube will be included by the University of Stuttgart in its services and made accessible to its subscribers.

3. Rights, documentation

Should you have any questions relating to our information services, you can contact us by email. You can claim your rights of information, blocking or the erasure of data by contacting our company data protection officer: email 

You can find this data protection declaration here in the respectively applicable version.

The concept which forms the basis of the service can be found via the following Internet address: YouTube use concept 

Further information concerning YouTube and other social networks, as well as information as to how you can protect your data can also be found at www.youngdata.de.

The University is based on its community of academic staff and students, the right of self-administration with the option of creating and carrying out one’s own study plans and research projects, as well as the authority to award publicly recognized academic titles. The University of Stuttgart is one of the leading technical universities in Germany, with a global reputation. It sees itself as a key player in university research, research which takes place outside of a university setting and industrial research, as well as a guarantor of quality and holistic, research-driven teaching. Public relations work is part of the University and will also take place in the future via Instagram.

1. YouTube

YouTube is a social network for video contributions. Via this service, users can publish, view, comment on and evaluate videos free-of-charge. The videos can generally be viewed by anybody. The users can “subscribe” to other users, so that the videos of other users are shown directly.

Further information concerning YouTube can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/intl/de/yt/about/

YouTube has many benefits:

• We can play contributions to multiple users in a speedy and uncomplicated manner.
• Our target groups include many YouTube users.
• Users can view videos without needing to register with YouTube.
• Allows us to promote ourselves fully in external terms.

2. Purpose of the use

For certain target groups, the existing instruments are no longer sufficient. When taking the target group of prospective students into account, we have found that these can be easily and directly addressed via YouTube and interested recipients can subscribe to our channel.

We can also transport our content across various medias and improve our visibility on the Internet, and we can position our brand and increase awareness of the University of Stuttgart.

By setting up a YouTube channel, the existing communication channels such as the homepage, press releases and print products are complemented in a sensible way. The YouTube channel allows us to communicate specifically with our target groups. And the YouTube channel informs the users of topics from the areas of research and university studies at the University of Stuttgart.

3. Type and scope of use

The YouTube account informs the users of (current) topics in the area of research and university studies at the University of Stuttgart.

The regular content of the contributions includes the following:

• Interviews with employees or students of the University of Stuttgart
• Image films
• Instructions relating to topics of relevance to courses of study, for example setting up the university WLAN
• Academic department films
• Videos of university events
• Recording of special lectures by renowned lecturers

4. Responsibilities for editorial / technical support

The editorial support is the responsibility of the  University Communications of the University of Stuttgart.

5. Alternative contact options

We wish to inform our users, that the YouTube channel is only one of many options for getting in touch with the University of Stuttgart or receiving information from us.

Further contact options:

• You can generally contact the central post room with any questions you may have.
  Please note: Communication by email takes place without encryption as standard. When communicating by email, it cannot be excluded that unauthorized persons become aware of the content of an email when it is being sent.
  Therefore, please use the encryption option when sending confidential information.
• Should you have any telephone queries, we can be contacted on +49 (0) 711 / 685-0 (the switchboard is manned from Monday to Friday from 6.45 am to 11.30 am and from 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm).
• Building and parcel address
  Keplerstr. 7, 70177 Stuttgart
• Mailing address
  Postfach 10 60 37 70049 Stuttgart

6. Self-obligation

This use concept is evaluated once per calendar quarter in relation to whether and how the use takes place. We promote awareness on the part of the users concerning the risks to their right of informed self-determination.

Please also consult our social media guide, our data protection declaration and the assessment of the consequences of the use of YouTube.

A data protection consequence assessment must be carried out in accordance with the general rules of Article 35 Paragraph 1 of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) if a form of processing, in particular when using new technologies can be expected to represent a significant risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons, in particular due to the type, scope, circumstances and purposes of the processing.

The YouTube service of the University of Stuttgart does not represent such risks, as we only process data to a very limited extent (see the data protection declaration). However, YouTube videos often have a direct connection to other persons. Therefore, when placing its own content, the University of Stuttgart ensures that the copyright in relation to picture materials and the image rights of any persons who are shown are protected.

From the point of view of the University of Stuttgart, the use of YouTube represents processing with a significant risk due to its wide ranging effects, in particular in relation to the evaluation of the data by Google Ireland Limited for advertising purposes and others, which means that a data protection consequence assessment needs to be carried out, since when using a YouTube account, the respective user can be systematically observed by Google Ireland Limited. During this process, sensitive data such as political views, sexual orientation or health problems can be disclosed, which are connected to each other and used in order to create a personality profile. Persons subject to special protections, such as young people can be YouTube users and therefore data subjects. Even when using YouTube content in a purely passive manner without holding an account, sensitive data can be gathered through the obtaining of log data, for example by means of the previously visited websites or the location data of the user.

This applies even more when it is considered that this cannot be checked by Google Ireland Limited or only verified in a limited manner. As the data of German users may be processed outside of Germany, there are major hurdles concerning redress before the courts compared to cases where the company is located in the country.

1) Risk identification:

The risks referred to above which are connected to the use of YouTube generally exist regardless of the use by the University of Stuttgart. Also, in the majority of cases of the video contributions by <University X>, no connection is made to personal data, but rather its own, factual content is distributed.

Finally, the data which is distributed when interacting with the YouTube account of the University of Stuttgart or other accounts, namely the videos and/or account name of a YouTube member, is already public / generally accessible and freely available on the Internet.

However, by means of the appearance on the YouTube page of the University of Stuttgart and the interaction, this data is made available to a wide ranging / "specific” target public audience, which means greater awareness and greater distribution than would be the case without such interaction.

Also, because the University of Stuttgart follows other YouTube channels and because others follow its YouTube channels, additional cross connections and information concerning the respective YouTube user arise; for example, the interest in research topics and the subscription properties or regular contributions can be followed.

Finally, also in case of passive use of the site, log data is gathered by YouTube.

By means of its own use of YouTube, the University of Stuttgart is therefore increasing the quantity of data which is used and evaluated by Google Ireland Limited.

2) Risk analysis:

By means of the extension of the distribution group and the increase in the connection options, the processing of the data by Google Ireland Limited and secret profile formation are encouraged. The openness for visitor contributions can lead to detrimental consequences for society, such as inappropriate or discriminatory comments or the distribution of sensitive data.

Should these consequences be shown to be significant when caused by Google Ireland, these are increased to a limited extent by the YouTube channel of the University of Stuttgart, as it is the case that the account data of the respective users are accessible to Google Ireland Limited to a significant extent. In particular, the service provided by the University of Stuttgart does not lead to any obligation to set up a YouTube account, as enough other options for contacting the University of Stuttgart and obtaining information exist.

Also, the topics of research and university studies very rarely lead to hate filled debates being triggered, which means that the likelihood of detrimental consequences is extremely limited.

3) Risk assessment

Overall, the additional risk caused by the YouTube account of the University of Stuttgart is considered to be low to medium.

In addition, by using remedial measures, it is possible to further reduce the risk. This includes the University of Stuttgart exerting influence over the providers. However, the majority of these measures are the responsibility of the user, for example when using YouTube there is no obligation to use a clear name. In addition, the user can protect himself or herself to a certain degree by using various settings, for example by deleting his or her browser history or de-activating cookies.

In addition, the continual editorial support is able to intervene in case of comments which are defamatory or insult other persons up to and including blocking the account. 

4) Result

The use of YouTube by the University of Stuttgart is considered reasonable in light of the described risk and binding measures. The University of Stuttgart is obliged to observe future developments and regularly repeat and, where applicable, continually develop the assessment which has been carried out here.