Facebook Information

The University of Mannheim uses the Facebook news service via the technical platform and services of Meta Platforms Inc., 1601 Willow Road Menlo Park, CA 94025: https://www.facebook.com/UniMannheim/

The controller responsible for processing of data from persons residing outside the United States is Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd., 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland.

We would like to point out that you use the Facebook fan page and its features at your own risk. This applies in particular to the use of interactive features (e.g. sharing, evaluating, commenting). Alternatively, you can also access the study or work-related information offered on this page on our website at www.uni-mannheim.de.

1. Data processed by Facebook:
Information about which data is processed by Facebook and for what purposes can be found in Meta's privacy policy: www.facebook.com/privacy/explanation

The University of Mannheim has no influence on the type and scope of the data processed by Facebook, the type of processing and use or the transfer of this data to third parties, nor does it have any effective means of control in this regard.

When you use Facebook, your personal data is collected, transferred, stored, disclosed, and used by Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd. and, regardless of your place of residence, transferred to the United States, Ireland, and any other country in which Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd. does business, where it is stored and used.

Facebook processes the data you voluntarily enter, such as your name and user name, email address, telephone number, or the contacts in your address book if you upload or synchronize it.

Facebook also evaluates the content you share to determine what topics you are interested in, stores and processes confidential messages that you send directly to other users, and can determine your location based on GPS data, information about wireless networks, or your IP address to send you advertising or other content.

Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd. may use analysis tools such as Facebook Insights or Google Analytics for evaluation purposes. The University of Mannheim has no influence on the use of such tools by Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd. and has not been informed of any such potential use. Should tools of this kind be used by Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd. for the University of Mannheim's fan page, the University of Mannheim has neither commissioned nor approved this, nor does it support it in any other way. Furthermore, the personal data obtained during the analysis will not be made available to you. Only certain non-personal, aggregated information about the activity, such as the number of profile or link clicks on a specific post or page, can be viewed by the University of Mannheim via your account. Furthermore, the University of Mannheim has no way of preventing or stopping the use of such tools on its Facebook fan page.

Finally, Facebook also receives information when you view content, even if you have not created an account. This “log data” may include your IP address, browser type, operating system, information about the website you previously visited and the pages you visited, your location, your mobile phone provider, the device you used (including device ID and application ID), the search terms you used, and cookie information.

Through Facebook buttons or widgets embedded in websites and the use of cookies, Facebook is able to track your visits to these websites and associate them with your Facebook profile. This data can be used to tailor content or advertising to you.

Even though Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd. is a non-European provider with a European branch only in Ireland, it is bound by the GDPR. This concerns, for example, your right of access as well as your right to have your data blocked or erased.

You can restrict the processing of your data in the general settings of your Facebook account under the various menu items listed there.

Further information on these points is available on the following Facebook support page:
www.facebook.com/about/privacy/

You can find out more about how to view and download your own data from Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=your_facebook_information

Information about the conclusions Facebook draws about you is provided at
https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=your_facebook_information

Information on the available personalization and data protection setting options is provided at https://www.facebook.com/ads/preferences/?entry_product=ad_settings_screen and at https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=facerec

You also have the option of contacting Facebook's data protection officer via the Facebook data protection form: https://www.facebook.com/help/contact/540977946302970

Information on your rights to object to data processing by Facebook ar provided at https://www.facebook.com/help/2069235856423257

2. Data processedby the University of Mannheim:
The University of Mannheim also processes your data. It does not collect any data via its Facebook account. However, we process the data you enter on Facebook, in particular your user name and the content published under your account, to the extent that we may share or comment on your posts or write posts that refer to your account. The data you freely publish and distribute on Facebook is thus included in the University of Mannheim's services and made available to its fans and subscribers. It does not collect any data itself via its Facebook account.

3. Rights, documentation, evaluation:
If you have any questions about the information we provide, please contact us at infomail-uni-mannheim.de. You can exercise your rights to access, block, or delete data by contacting our data protection officer at datenschutzbeauftragte@uni-mannheim.de.

The concept for this offer can be found at the following Internet address: Facebook utilization plan. We will evaluate this utilization plan once a year to determine whether and how it is being used. This evaluation of the utilization plan will take into account usage figures and reach as well as the target group structure of the networks.

Further information on Facebook and other social networks and how you can protect your data are also provided at www.youngdata.de.

For generations, the University of Mannheim has been preparing students to take on leadership roles in business, academia, and society. One of the university’s strengths in this task is its profile, which is characterized by the economic and social sciences In these two fields of research, the University of Mannheim has been ranked among the 20 best research universities in Europe for years.

Public relations work for the University of Mannheim also takes place on Facebook. With this utilization concept, the University of Mannheim is assuming its responsibility and role model function for using social media as a public body in accordance with the “Guidelines of the commissioner for data protection and freedom of information of Baden-Württemberg (LfDI) on the use of social networks by public bodies” . Please also refer to our Data Protection Declaration and Impact assessment of the use of Facebook.

1. General information about Facebook
Facebook is a social network for texts, photos, videos and live streams. Registered users can use this service to publish their content free of charge, network with other users or fan pages, comment on, like and share their posts.
Users can like or subscribe to fan pages so that they can read their news in their own news feed.

The advantages of Facebook are its wide reach and—unlike some other social networks—its readability without the need for users to register. Content from fan pages can be read by users even without registering with Facebook.

More information about Facebook is provided at de.newsroom.fb.com/company-info/

2. Purpose of the Facebook use by the University of Mannheim The Facebook fan page is a useful addition to existing communication channels such as the website, press releases, newsletters, print products, and events. The Facebook fan page helps paint a diverse picture of learning, teaching, research, and life at the University of Mannheim, which appeals to prospective students and increases the sense of identification that students and alumni feel toward their university. It also gives the public insight into the university's research and teaching activities as well as the work of university institutions, student bodies, and student organizations.

For some target groups, the “traditional” tools alone (print products and website) were no longer sufficient. We have found that we can reach students, prospective students, alumni, and employees much more directly and quickly via Facebook, especially since interested recipients can simply subscribe to our fan page. The Facebook fan page enables us to disseminate our news, stories, and impressions far and wide and to respond immediately to current events.

Facebook is also a channel for communication and listening. On the platform, students and prospective students can easily and directly contact their higher education institution with questions, suggestions, or criticism. As a “listening medium”, Facebook enables the university to communicate closely and directly with its target groups at eye level. Facebook can thus convey an informative, inviting, and human image of the higher education institution.

3. Type and scope of Facebook use by the University of Mannheim The Facebook fan page of the University of Mannheim provides users with current reports on university topics, news from academia, research and teaching, services, events and other useful information about the campus and Mannheim as a place to study. However, we do not use Facebook as a channel for providing advice. Requests sent to us via the Facebook message channel associated with the page are forwarded to the relevant department or, via a link, to the university website and referred to other communication channels such as telephone and email.

Regular content of the University of Mannheim's Facebook fan page includes:

• information about university events and student organizations
• information about developments and changes on campus
• information about current research projects and research results
• information about ranking results and other achievements of the university, as well as achievements and awards given to researchers, employees, students, and alumni of the university
• information about campus life at the university, student organizations, and student involvement
• sharing articles about the university's research published in national and regional media
• sharing articles and interviews with students and alumni of the University of Mannheim from our own channels
• information on semester dates such as re-registration or exam registration
• tips and links for applying

4. Responsibilities for editorial/technical support
Responsibility for editorial support lies with Dr. Andreas Margara and Linda Schädler as well as the associated communications and marketing departments, in particular the social media editorial team.

5. Alternative information and contact options
We would like to point out to users that the Facebook channel is only an additional option for contacting the University of Mannheim or obtaining information from it. Alternatively, the information offered on Facebook can also be accessed via the corresponding links on our website at www.uni-mannheim.de or on the other linked websites.

All requests can be sent to our central mailbox at infomail-uni-mannheim.de. Press inquiries can be sent to pressemail-uni-mannheim.de. The social media team can be reached at redaktionmail-uni-mannheim.de.

The University of Mannheim can be reached by telephone at +49 621 181-2222. The hotline is staffed Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Postal address:
Universität Mannheim
Schloss
68131 Mannheim

You can find an overview of the various ways to get in touch with the University of Mannheim on the contact website.

6. Commitment
We will evaluate this utilization plan once a year to determine whether and how it is being used. This evaluation of the utilization plan will take into account usage figures and reach as well as the target group structure of the networks.

According to the general regulation in Art. 35 paragraph 1 of the European General Data Protection Regulation, a data protection impact assessment must be carried out if a form of processing, in particular using new technologies, is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons due to the nature, scope, context, and purposes of the processing. The guideline of the commissioner for data protection and freedom of information of Baden-Württemberg (LfDI) on the use of social networks by public bodies makes it mandatory to assess the impact of the intended data processing for the protection of personal data based on the GDPR.

The Facebook services of the University of Mannheim itself do not have this impact due to the very small scope of the related data processing (cf. in this respect the Data protection information for the Facebook fan page of the University of Mannheim). However, the postings often have a direct personal reference. When creating and publishing its own content, the University of Mannheimtherefore ensures that the image rights of those depicted are taken into account in addition to the copyright of the photos. If the University of Mannheim's posts refer to other Facebook users (by sharing or mentioning them), only the data that they themselves have voluntarily provided (user name and posts) will be processed.

However, from the perspective of the University of Mannheim, the use of Facebook itself represents a high risk due to its far-reaching impact with regard to the evaluation of data by Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd. for advertising purposes and the like, for which a data protection impact assessment must be carried out due to the joint responsibility of the website operator (University of Mannheim) and the service provider (Facebook).

By using a Facebook account, the respective user places themselves under systematic observation by Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd. This may also reveal sensitive data such as political views, sexual orientation, or health problems, which can be linked and used to create a personality profile. Persons requiring special protection, such as minors, may also be Facebook users and thus data subjects. Even when merely passively reading Facebook without an account of one's own, sensitive data may be collected through the collection of log data, such as the websites previously visited or the location data of the user.

This applies all the more as Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd. cannot be checked or can only be checked to a limited extent. As the data of users based in Germany are not processed in Germany but in Ireland, there are higher hurdles to accessing (judicial) legal protection than with a company based in Germany.

The University of Mannheimassumes that public bodies that use a social network for public relations work and to provide general information bear joint responsibility.

Joint responsibility does not mean that the University of Mannheimconfirms or guarantees that the products of Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd. comply with data protection regulations. The University of Mannheim is unable to do this under the current circumstances. Joint responsibility rather means that the University of Mannheimmakes itself and others aware of the risks of social networks. From a data protection perspective, social networks are currently in need of improvement in many areas. For this reason, the University of Mannheim shows Facebook users alternative, more data protection-friendly communication channels by referring to the homepage of the University of Mannheim.

Users are also informed about the general risks associated with the use of social media in the Data protection information for the Facebook fan page of the University of Mannheim.

The University of Mannheimcommitted to these measures in its utilization plan. The advantages and disadvantages of using Facebook are regularly evaluated accordingly, taking into account the terms of service of Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd. This evaluation of the utilization concept is carried out annually and takes into account the usage figures and reach as well as the target group structure and usage behavior of the networks.

Facebook use is thus embedded in a package of measures. Against this background, the impact assessment of the Facebook use by the University of Mannheimis as follows:

1. Risk identification
The risks described at the beginning, which are associated with the use of Facebook, generally exist independently of the University of Mannheim's own Facebook use. In the vast majority of cases, the postings of the University of Mannheimdo not refer to sensitive personal data, but instead disseminate factual content.

Finally, the data processed through interaction with the University of Mannheim's Facebook fan page or other accounts—namely, the account name of a Facebook user visible in the comments—are already public/generally accessible/freely available on the Internet.

However, by appearing on the Facebook fan page of the University of Mannheim and through the interrelationship with a broader/“more specific” public, the data are made available and may thus attract greater attention and wider dissemination than without this interaction. This also allows the university to assess a user’s interest in the University of Mannheim due to a user’s fan or subscriber status or regular posts. Finally, Facebook also collects log data when users passively read the fan page.

By using Facebook itself, the University of Mannheim increases the amount of data that is used and analyzed by Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd.

2.Risk assessment
The expansion of the dissemination circle and the increase in linking options facilitates the processing of data for other purposes by Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd. and secret profiling. Openness to visitor contributions can also lead to negative social consequences such as inappropriate or discriminatory comments or the dissemination of sensitive data.

While these damages may be significant if caused by Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd. itself, they are only increased to a limited extent by the Facebook fan page of the University of Mannheim. This is because a substantial part of the data is already available to Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd. In particular, the services of the University of Mannheimdo not lead to an obligation to create a Facebook account, as there are sufficient alternative contact and information options for the University of Mannheim.

Also, the topics of science, teaching, research etc. are only suitable for triggering hateful debates to a limited extent, so that the probability of damage occurring is very limited.

3.Risk assessment
Overall, the additional risk caused by the Facebook fan page of the University of Mannheimcan therefore be classified as low to medium.

It is also possible to implement remedial measures that further reduce the risk. The majority of these measures are within the sphere of the user: Users can protect themselves to a certain extent by making various settings, such as deleting their browser history, deactivating cookies or not sharing their location when using photos. However, unlike X, for example, Facebook officially requires a real name.

In addition, continuous editorial support enables us to intervene in the event of comments that are defamatory or offensive up to and including blocking the account. The University of Mannheimhas formulated a netiquette for the use of its website and will ensure that users adhere to this netiquette when maintaining the site.

4. Result
The use of Facebook by the University of Mannheimis justifiable in view of the risks described and the binding measures established. The University of Mannheimcommits to monitoring further developments and to regularly repeating and, if necessary, further developing the review carried out.

Networking and communication with other Facebook users and fan pages
Subscribing to or liking other Facebook fan pages or liking posts or comments by the University of Mannheim does not imply any statement about the relationship of the University of Mannheim to these fan pages and users or the content published by them. In particular, it does not imply any approval or recommendation for its fans. Rather, the University of Mannheim sees subscribing to other fan pages or liking posts and comments as an opportunity to network with other bodies, individuals, and institutions for the rapid dissemination and sharing of information related to science.

The University of Mannheim will not subscribe to all of its subscribers. The University of Mannheim's decision not to subscribe to a fan page does not imply any statement, in particular it does not imply rejection or disinterest on the part of the University of Mannheim towards the respective fan page.

Type and purpose of use
The University of Mannheim uses its fan page for its own posts and shares in accordance with the manner described in its utilization plan. It can also be contacted via direct messages and will respond to comments where appropriate, provided that these relate to the exchange of information on university-related topics. For all types of requests, contact options outside of Facebook are available, such as emails to: infomail-uni-mannheim.de.

Detailed advice, e.g. on programs, is not provided; instead, a website link to the relevant telephone and email contacts or information pages of the University of Mannheim will be provided.

Facebook and data protection
The use of Facebook by the University of Mannheim does not imply any endorsement of this medium, the company, or the privacy policy of Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd. The University of Mannheim recommends that all users inform themselves about how Facebook processes their data and protect their privacy as best as possible: This includes reading the guidelines of Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd. Essential aspects are also summarized in the University of Mannheim's own data protection declaration on its use of Facebook.

In addition, every user should at least make the following settings to protect their privacy:

• open a user account only with the data that are absolutely necessary
• disable the widget function
• prevent cross-site tracking (for example, by using the Ghostery add-on in your browser)

1. We do not tolerate offensive or illegal on this social media page. In particular, please refrain from:
   • threats, bullying, harassment, insults, degrading comments, defamation, slander, malicious gossip, and hate speech in any form
   • posts expressing attitudes/views that are xenophobic, sexist, or discriminatory toward minorities, communities, or individuals
   • posts that explicitly represent party political, religious, and/or ideological content and goals
   • approving, triggering, or glorifying: violence, war, discrimination, unconstitutional, or anti-democratic acts
   • pornographic or sadistic depictions.
2. Do not post any advertising or spam.
   Any commercial content will be removed immediately. It is also not permitted to use social networks to send advertising or other marketing content to others via private messages (spam).
3. Respect privacy and anonymity! Please help us to protect the privacy and rights of other users. Do not disclose any personal/private details about other people, regardless of whether they are also users of the network or not. This primarily includes names, addresses, and other personal information, as well as photos/videos. Keep in mind that it may be difficult to delete such data completely at a later time.
4. As a user of this website, please respect copyright and intellectual property rights. In particular, please ensure that you have the rights to distribute the content, photos, artwork, or other works protected by copyright, trademark, or name rights that you publish on these social media pages. By posting certain content, you confirm that you have the necessary permission to do so. You also consent to the further use of this content on the various social media sites of the University of Mannheim.
5. “Be careful what you say!” While it's fine to be casual and use dialect or colloquial language, offensive language, swear words, or similar expressions are not tolerated. Likewise, sexist remarks are not tolerated. Please remain friendly and tolerant! Even if you feel attacked or insulted by a post or comment, remain objective and fair. If you feel that you have been treated unfairly, please let us know. The easiest way to do this is to send a direct message to the page administrators or an email to the university's social media coordinators at redaktionmail-uni-mannheim.de.
6. To make the exchange accessible and understandable for everyone, please post only in German or English.
7. The comments, opinions, and links posted by users on social media pages operated on behalf of the University of Mannheim do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the University of Mannheim. Furthermore, copyrighted works or trademarks of the University of Mannheim may not be used without the prior written consent of the university.
8. All posts must have a concrete, direct connection tothe University of Mannheim. In case of doubt, the respective page administrator should be contacted before posting.
9. Posts/content that violate the principles defined here will be removed immediately.
10. Users who ignore the netiquette of our social media pages despite repeated warnings will be excluded from using our social media pages. Depending on the nature of the content and/or the intensity of the insult, discrimination, threat, etc., we reserve the right to report the incident and the user to the respective site provider. These providers all have their own community standards, which also form the basis of our netiquette. As an example, we refer to the Facebook Community Standards provided at https://www.facebook.com/communitystandards/.
11. We are unable to review all postings in a timely manner. Administrators cannot be held responsible or liable for the content of comments. Each user is responsible for their own contributions. We would like to point out that you can be prosecuted for comments violating applicable law even when they are posted online and you can be reported by the University of Mannheim or by other users.