Hauptfokus (hauptfokus.de) is published by Alpen Press Ltd, a private company registered in Gibraltar (company number 132587, Companies House Gibraltar) with registered office at Office 3.7, ICC, Casemates Square, Gibraltar, GX11 1AA. This privacy policy explains how we collect, use and protect your personal data when you visit our website or interact with our journalism, in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Who is responsible for your data?
Alpen Press Ltd is the data controller for all personal data collected through hauptfokus.de. Our nominated representative for data protection matters is Michael Jung, Chefredaktör, who can be reached at anders.lindqvist@hauptfokus.de or +46 8 525 030 61. For general data enquiries, contact our privacy team at privacy@hauptfokus.de.
As a Gibraltar-registered company serving a primarily Swedish and international audience, we comply with UK GDPR because we offer content directed at readers in the United Kingdom. Our registered office is Office 3.7, ICC, Casemates Square, Gibraltar, GX11 1AA, and our main phone is +350 200 66950.
What personal data do we collect and why?
We collect only the personal data necessary for our legitimate interests in providing trustworthy journalism and operating a sustainable digital news service. This may include your name, email address, IP address, browser type, device information, and usage data when you subscribe to our newsletter, submit a tip, comment on articles, or contact us via email addresses such as info@hauptfokus.de, tips@hauptfokus.de, or complaints@hauptfokus.de.
We use this data to deliver requested services (e.g., newsletter subscriptions), respond to your queries, verify fact-check submissions, improve our site, and comply with legal obligations. For example, when you send a correction to corrections@hauptfokus.de, we retain your contact details to follow up on the accuracy of the correction. We never process data for automated decision-making or profiling that affects you.
How do we use your data?
We use personal data only for the specific purposes for which it was collected, or for compatible purposes such as analytics, security, and fraud prevention. Our lawful bases under UK GDPR are legitimate interest, consent (for non-essential cookies and marketing), and legal obligation. We do not sell your data to third parties.
Affiliate links and sponsored content, always clearly labelled, may involve tracking via third-party networks, but no personal identifiers are shared without your explicit consent. For full details on how commercial relationships are handled, see our Advertising & Affiliate Disclosure and Sponsored Content Policy.
Who do we share your data with?
We share personal data only with trusted service providers who help us operate the website, process payments, deliver newsletters, or conduct analytics – and only under strict data processing agreements that comply with UK GDPR. These providers include hosting platforms, email distribution services, and payment processors.
We never share data with advertisers or political organisations. Where required by law, we may disclose information to regulatory authorities such as the UK Information Commissioner’s Office. For any third-party data access related to fact‑checking or legal complaints, we have internal safeguards reviewed by Melanie Hartmann, our Ansvarig för faktagranskning (emma.sandberg@hauptfokus.de).
What are your rights under UK GDPR?
You have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict, or port your personal data, and to object to its processing. You also have the right to withdraw consent at any time where processing relies on consent (e.g., non‑essential cookies). To exercise these rights, contact our editorial office at privacy@hauptfokus.de or write to Alpen Press Ltd, Office 3.7, ICC, Casemates Square, Gibraltar, GX11 1AA.
We will respond to your request within one month. If you are unsatisfied, you may lodge a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office or your local data protection authority. More details are in our Complaints Procedure.
How long do we retain your data?
We retain personal data only as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this policy, or as required by law. For newsletter subscribers, we keep your email address until you unsubscribe. Correspondence submitted to tips@hauptfokus.de or corrections@hauptfokus.de is kept for up to two years after resolution. Analytics data is anonymised after 14 months.
We periodically review our retention schedules and delete or anonymise data that is no longer needed. For specific retention periods relating to sponsored content or affiliate marketing, see our Ownership & Funding page.
How do we protect your data?
We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to safeguard your personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These include encryption in transit (TLS), access controls limited to named staff (e.g., our newsroom team listed on Our Team), and regular security audits. We require all third-party processors to maintain equivalent standards.
In the event of a data breach, we will notify affected individuals and the UK Information Commissioner’s Office within 72 hours, as required by UK GDPR.
What about cookies and tracking?
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies for essential functions (e.g., session management) and, with your consent, for analytics and personalised advertising. You can manage your preferences at any time via our cookie consent tool. For full details, please see our separate Cookie Policy page.
We also use AI‑assisted tools for research and formatting, as described in our AI & Automation Policy. These tools may process anonymised or aggregated data, but never personal identifiers without explicit consent.
How can you contact us?
For any questions about this privacy policy or to exercise your data rights, contact our editorial team at privacy@hauptfokus.de. You can also write to Alpen Press Ltd at the registered office above or call our main line: +350 200 66950. For press enquiries: press@hauptfokus.de. For legal matters: legal@hauptfokus.de.
We aim to acknowledge all privacy requests within five business days. If your concern relates to a specific article or correction, please also copy corrections@hauptfokus.de and factcheck@hauptfokus.de.
Our commitments
- We will never sell your personal data or share it with third parties for their own marketing without your explicit, informed consent.
- We will process your data only for the legitimate purposes of operating a trustworthy news publication and will delete or anonymise it when no longer required.
- We will respond to every data subject request within one month and provide clear, jargon‑free explanations of our decisions.
- We will review and update this privacy policy at least annually, notifying you of material changes via a notice on hauptfokus.de.
- We will maintain independent oversight of data practices through our Chefredaktör and designated fact‑checking lead, ensuring accountability at the highest editorial level.