Blickindex.de is operated by Rhein Media Ltd., a private company registered in Gibraltar under company number 132410, with registered office at Suite 5.03, World Trade Center, 6 Bayside Road, Gibraltar, GX11 1AA. As the data controller, we are fully responsible for how your personal data is collected, stored, processed, and protected under UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Who is responsible for your data?
Rhein Media Ltd. is the data controller for all personal data processed through Blickindex.de. Any questions or requests regarding your data should be directed to our designated privacy contact at info@blickindex.de or by post to our registered office in Gibraltar.
The company is registered with the Gibraltar Companies House under number 132410 and complies with all applicable data protection laws. Our editorial team, led by Chefredaktör Thomas Weber, ensures that data handling practices are transparent and accountable. For specific privacy-related concerns, you may also contact our fact-checking team at factcheck@blickindex.de, but the primary channel remains the info email address.
What personal data do we collect and how?
We collect only the personal data that you voluntarily provide or that is technically necessary for the functioning of our website. This includes information such as your email address when you subscribe to our newsletter, contact details when you submit a tip or complaint, and technical data like IP address, browser type, and device identifiers when you visit our site.
Specifically, we may collect: (a) data you provide via our contact forms, newsletter sign-ups (see Newsletter), tip submissions (Tip Us), or corrections requests (Corrections Policy); (b) technical data automatically collected through cookies and similar technologies, as described in our Cookie Policy; and (c) aggregated analytics data that does not directly identify you. We never collect sensitive data such as health, religion, or political opinions unless you explicitly provide it in a message.
How do we use your personal data and on what legal basis?
We use your personal data only for the specific purpose for which you provided it, and always on a lawful basis under UK GDPR. The main legal bases are: your consent (e.g., for newsletter subscriptions and non-essential cookies), our legitimate interest in operating a news publication and improving our service (e.g., analytics, reader feedback), and compliance with legal obligations (e.g., responding to data subject requests or regulatory enquiries).
For example, if you contact us via info@blickindex.de with a complaint, we will use your email and details to investigate and respond – this processing is necessary for our legitimate interest in providing reader service and upholding journalistic standards. If you subscribe to our newsletter, we rely on your explicit consent, which you can withdraw at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in every email. We never sell your data to third parties, and we do not use it for automated decision-making or profiling that produces legal effects.
How long do we keep your data?
We retain personal data only for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purpose it was collected for, or as required by law. Newsletter subscriber data is kept until you unsubscribe; contact and complaint records are kept for up to three years after the matter is resolved, unless a longer retention is needed for legal claims.
Technical data such as IP addresses and analytics logs are anonymised or deleted after 26 months at most, in line with standard industry practice. Fact-checking correspondence may be retained for editorial quality assurance but is subject to the same retention limits. If you ask us to delete your data earlier, we will comply unless we have a legal obligation to keep it.
Who do we share your data with?
We share your personal data only with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate the website, deliver newsletters, process payments, and analyse traffic. These providers are contractually bound to process data only on our instructions and to comply with UK GDPR standards.
Current third-party processors include our web hosting provider, email delivery platform, and analytics service. We do not share data with advertisers or partner organisations for their own purposes. Where we use sponsored content or affiliate links, as disclosed in our Advertising & Affiliate Disclosure and Sponsored Content Policy, no personal data is transferred to sponsors. We may also disclose data if required by law or to protect our legal rights.
What are your rights under UK GDPR?
You have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict processing, data portability, and object to processing of your personal data. You also have the right to withdraw consent at any time and to lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@blickindex.de.
We will respond to your request within one month, free of charge, unless the request is manifestly unfounded or excessive. We may ask for proof of identity to ensure we are dealing with the correct person. For more details on how we handle complaints specifically, please see our Complaints Procedure.
How do we protect your data?
We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to secure your personal data against unauthorised access, loss, or alteration. This includes encryption in transit (HTTPS), secure storage, access controls limited to staff who need the data, and regular security reviews.
Our editorial staff and contractors are trained in data protection principles. While no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, we follow industry best practices and review our measures periodically. In the event of a data breach that affects your rights, we will notify you and the ICO without undue delay.
Do we use cookies?
Yes, we use cookies and similar technologies for essential site functionality, analytics, and to improve your experience. Some cookies require your consent before being placed. Full details, including how to manage your preferences, are provided in our separate Cookie Policy.
Our cookie policy explains which cookies are strictly necessary (e.g., for session management), which are used for analytics (e.g., anonymised visitor counts), and how you can opt out. We do not use tracking cookies for advertising or cross-site behaviour profiling.
Do we transfer your data outside the UK?
We may transfer your personal data to countries outside the UK, including to our servers and processors located in the European Economic Area (EEA). Such transfers are safeguarded by an adequacy decision (e.g., the EU–UK adequacy regulations) or by standard contractual clauses approved by the ICO.
Rhein Media Ltd. is based in Gibraltar, which is not part of the UK but is covered by its own data protection framework that ensures an adequate level of protection. Where data is processed by third parties in other jurisdictions, we verify that equivalent safeguards are in place.
Changes to this privacy policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal obligations. The current version was published in June 2025. We will notify you of material changes via a notice on our homepage or by email if you are a subscriber.
We encourage you to review this page periodically. The date of the last revision is always indicated at the bottom of the policy. Continued use of Blickindex.de after changes take effect constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy, unless you object.
Our commitments
- We will never sell your personal data to third parties or use it for purposes beyond those stated in this policy.
- We will respond to every data subject request within one month and handle it in accordance with UK GDPR.
- We will keep your data only as long as necessary and delete it securely when no longer needed.
- We will be transparent about any data breaches affecting your privacy and report them to the ICO without delay.
- We will review and update this privacy policy at least annually, and notify you of significant changes.