# Privacy Policy
Last updated: April 2026
Data protection at a glance
ClearBearing Advisory takes the protection of personal data seriously.
Personal data is processed exclusively in accordance with applicable data protection laws, including the GDPR.
## 1. Controller
Friedrich Wahnschaffe
Schellenbergstr. 8d
45134 Essen, Germany
Email: contact@clearbearing.de
A data protection officer is not required due to company size.
## 2. Overview
This privacy policy explains how ClearBearing ("we", "us") collects, processes, and protects personal data when you visit our website. We are committed to protecting your privacy in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and applicable German data protection law (BDSG).
## 3. Data we collect
### 3.1 Server log files
When you visit our website, our hosting provider Squarespace automatically collects and stores technical information in server log files. This includes your IP address (anonymized where possible), browser type and version, operating system, referring URL, pages visited, and date and time of access.
This data is processed on the basis of our legitimate interest in ensuring the secure and efficient operation of our website (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR). Server log data is not combined with other data sources and is automatically deleted after 7 days.
### 3.2 Squarespace analytics
Our website is hosted on Squarespace, which provides built-in analytics functionality. Squarespace may collect aggregated, anonymized usage data such as page views, traffic sources, and visitor geography at a country level. This data does not identify individual visitors.
For more information, see [Squarespace's Privacy Policy](https://www.squarespace.com/privacy).
Legal basis: Legitimate interest in understanding website performance (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).
### 3.3 Calendly
If you choose to book a meeting through our website, you will be redirected to Calendly, a third-party scheduling service. When you book a meeting, Calendly collects the personal data you provide (typically your name, email address, and any information you enter in the booking form).
ClearBearing processes this data for the purpose of scheduling and conducting the meeting. Calendly processes data as a data processor on our behalf and in accordance with its own privacy policy.
For more information, see [Calendly's Privacy Policy](https://calendly.com/privacy).
Legal basis: Performance of pre-contractual measures at your request (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR) and our legitimate interest in managing business inquiries (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).
## 4. Cookies
### 4.1 What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. They serve various purposes, from ensuring the website functions correctly to providing analytics data.
### 4.2 Cookies used on this website
Strictly necessary cookies (no consent required)
Squarespace sets certain cookies that are essential for the website to function. These include session cookies and security cookies. These cookies do not track you across other websites and are set on the basis of our legitimate interest in providing a functional website (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR).
Analytics cookies (consent required)
We do not currently use analytics cookies beyond Squarespace's built-in, anonymized analytics. If we introduce third-party analytics tools (such as Google Analytics) in the future, we will update this policy accordingly and obtain your consent before setting any analytics cookies, in accordance with Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR.
Third-party cookies
When you interact with the Calendly booking widget, Calendly may set its own cookies. These cookies are governed by Calendly's cookie policy. They are only set when you actively engage with the booking functionality.
### 4.3 Managing cookies
You can control and delete cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling strictly necessary cookies may affect the functionality of the website.
## 5. Data transfers outside the EU/EEA
Some of our service providers (Squarespace, Calendly) are based in the United States. Data transfers to the US are conducted on the basis of the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, where the provider is certified, or on the basis of Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission.
## 6. Data retention
We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy or as required by law. Specifically:
- Server log files: up to 7 days
- Calendly booking data: for the duration of the business relationship and any applicable statutory retention period
- Communication records: in accordance with German commercial and tax law retention periods (6 or 10 years, as applicable under §§ 147 AO, 257 HGB)
## 7. Your rights
Under the GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Right of access (Art. 15 GDPR) — You may request confirmation of whether we process your personal data and, if so, access to that data.
- Right to rectification (Art. 16 GDPR) — You may request correction of inaccurate data.
- Right to erasure (Art. 17 GDPR) — You may request deletion of your data, subject to legal retention obligations.
- Right to restriction of processing (Art. 18 GDPR) — You may request that we restrict the processing of your data under certain conditions.
- Right to data portability (Art. 20 GDPR) — You may request to receive your data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format.
- Right to object (Art. 21 GDPR) — You may object to processing based on legitimate interest at any time. We will then cease processing unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds.
- Right to withdraw consent (Art. 7(3) GDPR) — Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at friedrich.wahnschaffe@gmail.com.
## 8. Right to lodge a complaint
You have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. The competent authority for ClearBearing is:
Landesbeauftragte für Datenschutz und Informationsfreiheit Nordrhein-Westfalen (LDI NRW)
Kavalleriestr. 2–4
40213 Düsseldorf
Website: https://www.ldi.nrw.de
## 9. Changes to this policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. The current version is always available on this page. The date of the last update is indicated at the top.
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# Cookie Policy
Last updated: April 2026
## Cookies on this website
ClearBearing uses only cookies that are strictly necessary for the operation of this website. We do not use cookies for advertising, profiling, or cross-site tracking.
| Cookie | Provider | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|--------|----------|---------|----------|------|
| Session cookies | Squarespace | Website functionality and security | Session | Strictly necessary |
| CSRF token | Squarespace | Protection against cross-site request forgery | Session | Strictly necessary |
| Cookie consent | Squarespace | Storing your cookie preferences | 1 year | Strictly necessary |
If we introduce analytics cookies (e.g., Google Analytics) in the future, this table will be updated and consent will be obtained before any such cookies are set.
### Third-party cookies
When you use the Calendly booking link, Calendly may set cookies on your device. These are governed by [Calendly's Cookie Policy](https://calendly.com/privacy). These cookies are only activated when you actively click through to the booking page.
### How to manage cookies
You can manage cookies through your browser settings:
- [Google Chrome](https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647)
- [Mozilla Firefox](https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/cookies-information-websites-store-on-your-computer)
- [Safari](https://support.apple.com/guide/safari/manage-cookies-sfri11471)
- [Microsoft Edge](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-edge/manage-cookies-in-microsoft-edge-168dab11-0753-043d-7c16-ede5947fc64d)
Disabling strictly necessary cookies may impair the functionality of this website.
TL:DR: Your rights
You have the right to:
Access your stored data
Request correction or deletion
Restrict or object to processing
Lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority
Requests can be sent to: contact@clearbearing.de