When you’re looking to maintain or upgrade your Mercedes-Benz, finding the correct part number is crucial. At cardetailinguk.com, we understand the importance of both getting your vehicle in top condition and ensuring your online experience is secure and private. This article, adapted from official Mercedes-Benz data protection information, outlines how your data is handled when you interact with Mercedes-Benz online, which is relevant when you’re engaged in activities like a Mercedes Part Number Search.
Understanding Data Protection at Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz AG, like any responsible global company, takes data protection seriously. They are committed to transparency and safeguarding your personal information in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This commitment extends to all online interactions, including when you might be searching for specific Mercedes-Benz part numbers.
Who is Responsible for Data Protection?
Mercedes-Benz AG is the primary party responsible for data protection. You can reach them directly for data protection inquiries:
Mercedes-Benz AG
Mercedesstraße 120
70372 Stuttgart
Germany
Email: [email protected]
For specific concerns, you can also contact their Data Protection Officer:
Mercedes-Benz Group AG Chief Officer Corporate Data Protection
HPC E600
70546 Stuttgart
Germany
Email: [email protected]
How Mercedes-Benz Collects and Processes Your Data
When you visit Mercedes-Benz websites, even if you’re just browsing or conducting a Mercedes part number search, certain data is automatically collected. This is standard practice to improve website functionality and security.
Automatic Data Collection:
- Browser and Operating System Information: Details about the software you’re using to access the website.
- Date and Time of Visit: When you accessed the site.
- Interaction Status: Whether your visit was successful or encountered errors.
- Website Feature Usage: How you interact with different elements on the site.
- Search Phrases: Including any Mercedes part number search terms you enter.
- Frequency of Visits: How often you access specific pages.
- Accessed Files: Names of files you download or view.
- Data Transfer Volume: The amount of data exchanged.
- Referring Web Page: The site you came from before landing on the Mercedes-Benz website.
- Subsequent Web Page: Where you go after leaving the Mercedes-Benz site.
- IP Address and Internet Service Provider: Stored temporarily (for seven days) for security and fraud prevention.
Alt: Mercedes-Benz Headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, emphasizing corporate responsibility and data protection.
Data You Voluntarily Provide:
Beyond automatic collection, Mercedes-Benz only stores additional personal data if you willingly provide it. This might occur when you:
- Register for services.
- Use contact forms.
- Participate in chats or surveys.
- Enter competitions.
- Engage in contract-related processes, such as ordering parts (though likely not directly through their privacy policy page).
Providing personal data is not legally or contractually mandatory, but some website features may require it to function fully. If you choose not to provide certain information, your access to specific features might be limited.
Why Mercedes-Benz Uses Your Data
The data collected during your interactions with Mercedes-Benz websites serves several key purposes, all aimed at enhancing your experience and maintaining security.
Primary Purposes:
- Website Optimization: To make the websites user-friendly and efficient, ensuring a smooth experience whether you are conducting a Mercedes part number search or browsing other content.
- IT System Security: To protect against attacks, fraud, and other unlawful activities, safeguarding the integrity of their online platforms.
Secondary Purposes (with Consent):
If you provide further information, Mercedes-Benz may use it for:
- Customer Management: Improving customer service and personalizing your interactions.
- Processing and Billing: Handling transactions if you engage in purchases or services.
- Business Operations: General business processes within the scope of their operations.
- Personalized Content and Advertising: Displaying tailored content or ads based on your browsing behavior, but only with your explicit consent through their consent management system.
Alt: Secure data processing at Mercedes-Benz, highlighting the protection of user information during online activities like Mercedes part number search.
Legal Obligations:
Mercedes-Benz is also legally obligated to use personal data for compliance purposes, such as:
- Data Retention: Storing data to meet commercial or tax-related legal requirements.
- Legal Disclosure: Releasing information in response to official or judicial orders, for instance, to law enforcement agencies.
Data Sharing, Social Plugins, and Service Providers
Mercedes-Benz may share your data with third parties under specific circumstances:
Third-Party Offers:
Mercedes-Benz websites may include offers from third-party companies. If you click on these offers, data is transferred to the respective provider to the extent necessary. This might include information about how you found the offer and any data you’ve already provided on the Mercedes-Benz website.
Social Plugins:
Mercedes-Benz integrates social plugins from networks like Facebook and Twitter in a privacy-conscious manner:
- Deactivated by Default: Social plugins are initially deactivated when you visit the websites, preventing automatic data transmission to social networks.
- User Activation Required: You must click on a social plugin to activate it and establish a direct connection to the social network’s server.
- Account Association: If you are logged into the social network when activating the plugin, the network can associate your visit to the Mercedes-Benz website with your social media account. To prevent this, log out of social networks before activating plugins.
- Data Transfer upon Activation: Once activated, the social network transfers content directly to your browser and integrates it into the Mercedes-Benz website. Data transfers are then governed by the social network’s privacy policies.
- Plugin Persistence: Social plugins remain active until you manually deactivate them or clear your cookies.
Alt: Mercedes-Benz connecting with customers through social media, while ensuring data protection even with integrated social plugins during activities like Mercedes part number search.
International Data Transfer:
Clicking on third-party offers or activating social plugins may result in your data being transferred to providers in countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA). These countries may not have the same level of data protection as the EU. Be mindful of this when interacting with such links or plugins.
Service Providers:
Mercedes-Benz utilizes qualified service providers for website operation, optimization, and security, including IT services and marketing agencies. Personal data is shared with these providers only when necessary for website functionality, legitimate interests, legal compliance, or with your consent.
Cookies and Similar Technologies
Mercedes-Benz uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance website functionality and user experience.
What are Cookies?
Cookies are small files stored on your device when you visit a website. They enable websites to:
- Recognize your device and previous visits.
- Remember your preferences (e.g., language settings).
- Offer specific functions (e.g., online shopping features).
- Understand your usage-based interests.
Cookies may contain personal data.
Cookie Usage and Consent:
The types of cookies used depend on the website areas and functions you use and your consent choices within the Mercedes-Benz Consent Management System. You have control over non-essential cookies.
Browser Settings:
You can manage cookie settings through your web browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge). Most browsers are set to accept certain cookies automatically, but you can change this. You can also delete stored cookies at any time.
Device and Browser Specificity:
Cookie consent and settings are specific to the device and browser you use. You need to manage your preferences separately for each device and browser.
Impact of Disabling Cookies:
If you disable cookies, some website functions may be limited or unavailable.
Data Security Measures
Mercedes-Benz employs robust technical and organizational security measures to protect your data against:
- Tampering.
- Loss.
- Destruction.
- Unauthorized access.
These security measures are continuously updated to reflect technological advancements.
Legal Basis for Data Processing
Mercedes-Benz processes your personal data based on various legal grounds as defined by the GDPR:
- Consent (Art. 6, para. 1, letter a GDPR): If you have given explicit consent for specific processing activities.
- Contractual Necessity (Art. 6 (1) b GDPR): For processing data necessary to initiate or fulfill a contract with you.
- Legal Obligation (Art. 6, para. 1, letter c GDPR): When processing is required to comply with legal obligations (e.g., data retention).
- Legitimate Interests (Art. 6, para. 1, letter f GDPR): For processing data to protect legitimate interests of Mercedes-Benz or third parties, such as IT system functionality, direct marketing (where consent isn’t required), and business contact documentation. These legitimate interests are carefully balanced against your privacy rights.
Data Deletion and Storage
- IP Address Deletion: IP addresses and ISP names stored for security are deleted after seven days.
- Purpose Limitation: Personal data is deleted when the purpose for its collection and processing is fulfilled.
- Legal Retention: Data may be stored longer if required by EU or member state laws, regulations, or legal provisions, or by equivalent legal provisions in third countries with adequate data protection levels.
- Data Restriction: If deletion is not possible in specific cases, the data is flagged to restrict further processing.
Your Data Rights
Under GDPR, you have significant rights regarding your personal data:
- Right of Access (Art. 15 GDPR): You can request information about the personal data Mercedes-Benz holds about you.
- Right to Rectification (Art. 16 GDPR): You can request correction of inaccurate personal data.
- Right to Erasure (Right to be Forgotten) (Art. 17 GDPR): You can request deletion of your personal data under certain conditions.
- Right to Restriction of Processing (Art. 18 GDPR): You can request ограничение of processing your data in specific situations.
- Right to Data Portability (Art. 20 GDPR): You can request to receive your data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format or have it transferred to another controller.
- Right to Withdraw Consent (Art. 7, para 3 GDPR): If processing is based on your consent, you can withdraw it at any time without affecting the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal.
- Right to Object (Art. 21 GDPR): You have the right to object to the processing of your data based on public interest or legitimate interests (Art. 6, para. 1, letter e or f GDPR), as well as to direct marketing.
Alt: Illustration of data subject rights under GDPR, emphasizing user control over personal information related to Mercedes-Benz services, including those accessed during Mercedes part number search.
To exercise your rights, please contact: [email protected]
Right to Lodge a Complaint:
If you believe that Mercedes-Benz’s processing of your data violates legal requirements, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a competent data protection supervisory authority (Art. 77 GDPR).
Newsletter Subscriptions
If you subscribe to a Mercedes-Benz newsletter, your registration data will only be used for sending the newsletter, unless you consent to additional uses. You can unsubscribe at any time via the unsubscribe link in the newsletter.
Central Registration Service
Mercedes-Benz Group AG offers a Central Registration Service that allows you to sign up for various Mercedes-Benz websites and applications. Specific data protection provisions for this service are detailed in the applicable terms of use found on the registration pages of affiliated websites and applications.
International Data Transfers Outside the EEA
When using service providers or transferring data to third parties based on your consent, personal data may be transferred to and processed in countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA), particularly the USA and India.
Adequate Level of Protection:
The EU recognizes certain countries as having an adequate level of data protection comparable to EU standards (e.g., Andorra, Argentina, Canada (limited), Japan, Switzerland, UK). For data transfers to other countries, Mercedes-Benz uses EU standard contractual clauses, binding corporate rules, or other appropriate legal mechanisms to ensure an “adequate level of protection” as required by law.
For more information on international data transfers and data protection, use the contact details provided in section 9.d.
This information is based on the latest update from February 2022 and reflects Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to data protection. When engaging with Mercedes-Benz online, including for a Mercedes part number search, understanding these policies helps ensure your data is handled responsibly and transparently.
