GDPR, my blog and my pictures

The new GDPR – the General Data Protection Regulation – comes into force on Friday. One might think that the more confusing the naming, the more outrageous the law. I've been dealing with the GDPR for quite a long time and haven't become hectic about it. This mostly has to do with the fact that your data has always been important to me. That's why I don't want to just go to that here Privacy Policy which have of course also been available for this blog for a few days (and were in the imprint for a long time before that), but also explain a few things personally.

Open communication has always been and is important to me in this blog. Before I introduced Amazon Affiliate Links, I asked my readers about it. And of course all relevant links are marked. Of course, for each amount it says who provided me with which equipment, if I received it. Why should I keep this quiet? Of course, I know that not all bloggers do this - one reason why I didn't comply with Nikon's request to become an influencer for them: they work with people who keep this collaboration secret.

The GDPR now ensures that there is more transparency in the handling of data. I like that. In my opinion, there are basically two perspectives: necessary data and convenience. What is necessary here in the blog, for example, is that I recognize whether you clicked on the data transfer notice when commenting. I activated this feature a while ago so I can see if you agree with it. When you come to my site for the first time, you will see the notice about the use of cookies below. You can accept this and confirm it with one click, then the convenience part comes and a cookie is actually set so that you no longer see the notice. You don't have to accept the message, then no cookie will be set. It's your choice, it's your convenience.

The same applies to the newsletter, which is of course an opt-in and it also says that it is an external provider to whom you give your data: Mailchimp. You do not have to subscribe to the newsletter and you can unsubscribe at any time. The earth will still continue to rotate. Ultimately it is your decision, your convenience. Nevertheless, it is of course completely okay to point it out.

Since I run a self-hosted WordPress blog, I can influence the cookies used. When you visit this blog, I only set two cookies that you might not suspect or recognize at first glance - although you can of course suppress these cookies using the appropriate tools and browser settings. One comes from Google Analytics, so I know how many people are here - but of course I have only been transmitting the data with an anonymized IP address for many years. The other cookie is to protect against spam, but here too I have not used Askimet (the standard for WordPress) for many years because it sends data to the USA. I use Bad behaviorto protect myself from spam.

In general, I recommend that you do not accept so-called "third-party cookies" in the first place. Facebook sets the latter by displaying my pictures on Instagram at the bottom of the page, but there are absolutely no disadvantages if you do not accept the cookie. Not a cookie, but still worth mentioning: Google provides the font and therefore there is a link here too. However, the page is still readable if you do not allow this link.

I turned off the function to automatically convert emoticons into smileys, as well as automating Gravatar profiles based on email addresses. Just to be on the safe side, I have included this in the data protection declaration. By the way: if you comment on my links to blog posts on Facebook or Twitter, this comment may be automatically imported here. You control this in your settings on Facebook and through the reply on Twitter.

As you can see, data economy and openness with your data have been important to me for many years. With the new WordPress I can now make all of your data available to you or have it deleted. This means you can use your email address to see which data is stored about you in my blog - and you can also have this (your) data deleted. Unfortunately, I haven't yet found a function to make this wish possible for you. Therefore, you would have to send me an email and I will take care of it accordingly.

I think this meets the spirit of the law for this blog. And you now know, hopefully in an understandable form and without paragraphs, what happens to your data here in the blog.

Cover photo: nothing is eaten as hot as it is cooked

Oh yes: images are also data. (Unless you take analogue photographs – like I did with my cover photo.) Well, for one thing, it has BMI recently presented againthat the Art Copyright Act continues to apply. On the other hand, the vast majority of them are here and of course in my portfolio published images were published with the knowledge and consent of the people photographed. And if I have customers who are not so clear about this and want to use images with people for advertising purposes, then I explain it patiently. (Even if I don't get the job because I'm "so difficult"). I have also never discussed with anyone the desire to delete an image. A look at my statement to photography in order to be able to understand what is important to me as a person and photographer when dealing with others.

If you have any further questions about my approach to the GDPR issue, I look forward to your comments. And if I'm really on the wrong track, I'm even more looking forward to your comments...