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    Data Protection Information for Participants in WZB-Research

    The WZB Berlin Social Science Center is a publicly funded non-university research institute and a member of the Leibniz Association. Compliance with data protection regulations is of great importance to us. We strictly adhere to the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and would like to inform you below about the processing of your personal data in WZB research.

    Typically, participation in a specific WZB research project is based on informed consent. In this context, you will receive detailed information regarding the processing of your data in the specific research project. Participation in WZB surveys or interviews is always voluntary. There are no disadvantages for you if you choose not to participate. We process your data for the purposes of scientific research, meaning with the aim of gaining novel insights in the specific area of the research project. Personal information is always treated confidentially and protected by technical and organizational measures.

    Responsible for data processing in WZB research:

    Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung gGmbH
    WZB Berlin Social Science Center
    Reichpietschufer 50 
    D-10785 Berlin
    Germany 

    Phone: +49 30 25491 0
    Email: wzb [at] wzb.eu 

    Representatives of management: 

    Prof. Dr. h.c. Nicola Fuchs-Schündeln, Ph.D. (President)
    Ursula Noack (Managing Director) 

    To conduct our research, we collect and process particularly the following data

    • Name 
    • Contact information 
    • Identification number/code (pseudonym) 
    • Questionnaire data, interview data, experimental data 
    • Social media data 
    • Audio recordings 
    • Video recordings 
    • Audio transcriptions, i.e., written documentation of a conducted interview 
    • Special categories of personal data (e.g., related to health, ethnic origin, religious beliefs, or sexual orientation) 

    We will inform you about the specific data processing at the beginning of the survey or interview/experiment.

    Anonymization and pseudonymization of research data 

    As soon as possible according to the purpose of the research project, we anonymize or pseudonymize your data. In the case of anonymization, we change the collected data in such a way that it can no longer be assigned to a specific or identifiable person. In the case of pseudonymization, we replace your name and other identifying features with a code. We store this code separately along with the information that allows us to identify you. Only specially authorized persons have access to this assignment list. Pseudonymized data will only be linked to your name or other identifying features if the research purpose requires it (e.g., in the case of a follow-up survey).

    Publication of research results 

    We publish research findings in a scientifically standard form, i.e., in publications, lectures, interviews, and on social media. Generally, published research findings do not allow any conclusions to be drawn about you as a person. An exception applies only if you have consented to the publication or if the publication of personal data is essential for the presentation of research results concerning historical events.

    The data collected in connection with the research project may be stored and made publicly accessible in anonymized form in a trusted data archive after the project has been completed, in accordance with good scientific practice. It is ensured that no conclusions can be drawn about individual persons from this data. Other researchers can then use the anonymous data for their own research purposes.

    Legal basis for processing 

    Providing your data is not legally required. However, the data are necessary for the conduct of the research project. Without providing the data needed for the research project, you cannot participate in WZB research. 

    The legal bases for data processing in WZB research are Article 6 (1) (a) GDPR (consent) as well as Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR (balancing of interests based on WZB's interest in conducting scientific research). 

    In cases where the processing involves particularly protected categories of personal data, the processing is additionally based on Article 9 (2) (a) GDPR (consent) and Article 9 (2) (j) GDPR in conjunction with § 27 (1) BDSG (processing for scientific research purposes). 

    All data are stored securely. All individuals who have access to your data are contractually bound to confidentiality. 

    Use of service providers 

    We may engage strictly controlled service providers to assist us in areas such as data collection (e.g., survey institutes), hosting, maintenance and support of IT systems, archiving and destruction of documents, as well as in the transcription of audio recordings. We have contracts for data processing in place with the service providers we use that require them to comply with legal data protection obligations. 

    Use of AI technology in our research 

    In WZB research, data can be collected and analyzed by us using AI systems to answer research questions and gain new insights. The AI systems help us identify patterns and relationships in the research data. The insights gained are interpreted by researchers and summarized in the research results. For processing, we use, for example, AI systems from OpenAI, Inc. (ChatGPT). ChatGPT is provided by a provider based in the USA. The USA is a third country outside the European Union. Countries outside the European Union handle the protection of personal data differently than countries within the European Union. We have therefore taken special measures to ensure that your data is processed in third countries as safely as it is within the European Union. OpenAI is certified under the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework. We have concluded the data protection agreement (Standard Contractual Clauses) provided by the European Commission for the processing of personal data in third countries with OpenAI. Both instruments provide appropriate guarantees for the protection of your data when processed by service providers in third countries. You can request a copy of the Standard Contractual Clauses using the contact details provided above.

    Storage duration 

    According to the rules of good scientific practice, we store research data for at least 10 years after the completion of the research project to enable a verification of the research results. Usually, we store your data in anonymized form. We only retain your data in identifiable form if this is necessary to fulfill recognized functions of research data management or for the execution of follow-up projects.

    Your data protection rights and contact with WZB’s data protection officer 

    As a data subject, you have the right to access information about the personal data concerning you (Article 15 GDPR), to rectify incorrect data (Article 16 GDPR), and to erasure when one of the reasons specified in Article 17 GDPR applies, e.g., if the data are no longer needed for the purposes pursued. There is also a right to restriction of processing if one of the conditions listed in Article 18 GDPR applies and under the circumstances of Article 20 GDPR, the right to data portability. If we process your data based on consent, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. A withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before the withdrawal.

    If data is collected based on Article 6 (1) (f) GDPR (data processing to safeguard legitimate interests) or Article 6 (1) (e) GDPR (data processing to safeguard public interests or in the exercise of public authority), you have the right under Article 21 (1) GDPR to object to the processing at any time based on reasons arising from your particular situation. We will no longer process your personal data unless there are demonstrable compelling reasons for processing that override your interests, rights, and freedoms, or the processing serves the assertion, exercise, or defense of legal claims.

    You can assert your data protection rights at any time using the contact details provided above. You also have the possibility to contact our Data Protection Officer with questions. The contact details of our Data Protection Officer are:

    datenschutz nord GmbH
    Location Berlin 
    Kurfürstendamm 212 
    10719 Berlin 
    Email: office [at] datenschutz-nord.de 

    If you believe that we have not complied with data protection regulations when processing your data, you may lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, which will review your complaint. The right to complain can be made, in particular, to a supervisory authority in the member state of your habitual residence, your workplace, or the place of the alleged infringement. The competent supervisory authority for the WZB Berlin Social Science Center is the Berlin Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information, www.datenschutz-berlin.de, Email: mailbox [at] datenschutz-berlin.de. 

     

    Thank you for your cooperation and your trust in our research!