LinkedIn

Netiquette

Dear followers and visitors,

We are very happy about a lively exchange on our social media pages.

To ensure a positive culture of discussion, we ask you to observe the following points when posting:

Maintain a polite and respectful tone: constructive criticism and factual comments are always welcome. However, insults and abusive language are not helpful and will be removed by us.
We do not tolerate any anti-constitutional, illegal, pornographic, racist, sexist, homophobic or other disparaging comments on our site. Anyone who violates this will be removed from the site and reported to LinkedIn.
Be aware that your posts can be found publicly on our site. Therefore, be careful with your own personal data and do not upload any third-party content (texts, photos, videos) without explicit consent.
Refrain from advertising, spam or other commercial content.
The Uniklinik Freiburg is ideologically neutral. Our social media pages are not suitable for the dissemination of religious or political messages.

Assessment of the consequences of LinkedIn use by the Medical Center - University of Freiburg

According to the general rule of Art. 35 para. 1 of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a data protection impact assessment must be carried out if a form of processing, in particular when using new technologies, is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons due to the nature, scope, circumstances and purposes of the processing. The guideline of the State Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (LfDI) on the use of social networks by public bodies makes it mandatory to assess the consequences of the intended processing operations for the protection of personal data in accordance with the GDPR.

The LinkedIn offering of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg itself does not trigger this consequence due to the very small scope of its own data processing (cf. in this respect the privacy policy), especially in view of the fact that its posts are mainly purely about sending content without personal reference, and in the case of a reference to other LinkedIn users, only the data that they have voluntarily provided themselves is processed (since LinkedIn is a career network, information on employer and position can often be found in addition to the user name and posts).

However, from the point of view of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg , the use of LinkedIn in itself constitutes a high-risk processing operation due to its far-reaching effects, in particular with regard to the evaluation of data by LinkedIn for advertising purposes, etc., for which a data protection impact assessment (by LinkedIn) must be carried out.

This is because by using a LinkedIn account, the respective user is subject to systematic observation by LinkedIn. This can also reveal sensitive data such as political views, sexual orientation or health problems, which can be linked together and used to create a personality profile. Particularly vulnerable persons, such as young people, can also be LinkedIn users and thus affected, although they are naturally not part of the LinkedIn target group, even if official registration is permitted from the age of 16 (see also "Risk assessment").

Even if users merely passively read along on LinkedIn without their own account, sensitive data can be collected through the collection of log data, such as the websites previously visited or the user's location data.

This is all the more true as LinkedIn cannot be checked or can only be checked to a limited extent. As the data of German users is not processed within Germany but in non-European countries, there are higher hurdles for access to (judicial) legal protection than with a company based in Germany. If data protection issues cannot be clarified directly with LinkedIn, the data protection officer in Ireland is the point of contact.

In this respect, the Medical Center - University of Freiburg assumes that public bodies that use a social network for public relations work and to provide general information bear joint responsibility.
Shared responsibility does not mean that the Medical Center - University of Freiburg confirms or guarantees the data protection compliance of LinkedIn's products. It cannot do this under the given circumstances. Rather, co-responsibility means that the Medical Center - University of Freiburg makes itself and others aware of the risks of social networks. Social networks are currently in need of improvement in many respects from a data protection perspective. For this reason, LinkedIn users are shown alternative, more data protection-friendly communication channels by referring them to the homepage of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg.

Users are made aware of the risks generally associated with the use of social media in the data protection declaration of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. This can be found on the website of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. LinkedIn itself does not currently offer a direct option for this on the LinkedIn company page. In addition, the Medical Center - University of Freiburg regularly runs campaigns to raise awareness and explain the risks on its homepage.

The Medical Center - University of Freiburg has committed to these measures in its usage concept . The advantages and disadvantages of using LinkedIn are regularly evaluated in accordance with the LinkedIn com terms of use.

LinkedIn use is therefore embedded in a package of measures. Against this background, the assessment of the consequences of LinkedIn use at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg is as follows:

1. risk identification:

The risks associated with the use of LinkedIn described at the beginning basically exist independently of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg's own LinkedIn use. Also, in the vast majority of cases, the contributions of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg itself do not make any reference to personal data, but rather disseminate their own factual content.

Finally, the data processed through interaction with the LinkedIn account of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg or other accounts - namely the posts or/and the account name of a LinkedIn user - are already public/ generally accessible/ freely available on the Internet.

However, by appearing on the LinkedIn page of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg and the interaction, they are made available to a broader/"more specific" public and may thus achieve greater attention and wider distribution than without this interaction.

The fact that the Medical Center - University of Freiburg follows other accounts or has them follow it also creates additional cross-connections and information about the respective LinkedIn user; for example, areas of interest can be read from the subscriber/follower property, regular contributions, activities and group memberships.

Finally, LinkedIn also collects log data when users passively read the page.

By using LinkedIn itself, the Medical Center - University of Freiburg therefore increases the amount of data that is used and evaluated by LinkedIn.

2. Risk analysis:

By expanding the circle of dissemination and increasing the linking options, the processing of data for other purposes by LinkedIn and secret profiling is favored. The openness for visitor contributions can also lead to adverse social consequences such as inappropriate or discriminatory comments or the dissemination of sensitive data or, as a career network, in particular with regard to the current or future workplace and professional environment.

While these damages may be significant if caused by LinkedIn itself, they are only increased to a very limited extent by the LinkedIn profile of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. This is because the data is to a large extent already available to LinkedIn. In particular, the Medical Center - University of Freiburg's offer does not create any obligation to create a LinkedIn account, as there are sufficient alternative contact and information options for the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. In principle, all posts and job offers that are displayed on the LinkedIn account of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg are also available on the website of the Medical Center of Freiburg, so that their consumption is possible without any data generation.

Also, the topics of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, such as health, science, teaching, research, etc., are only suitable for triggering hateful debates to a limited extent, so that the probability of damage occurring is also very limited in this respect.

3. Risk assessment

Overall, the additional risk caused by the LinkedIn account of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg can therefore be classified as low to medium.

It is also possible to implement remedial measures to further reduce the risk. However, the majority of these measures are within the user's sphere of influence: users can protect themselves to a certain extent by making various settings, such as deleting their browser history, deactivating cookies or not sharing their location when using photos.

With regard to people who are particularly worthy of protection, such as young people, it can be seen that they are generally not part of the LinkedIn target group. Even though it is possible to register with LinkedIn from the age of 16, LinkedIn as a career network is primarily aimed at specialists and managers who want to network with each other worldwide on their own initiative.

This target group is generally much older and in possession of a corresponding education and must therefore weigh up the professional benefits of the service against the protection of their data. Nevertheless, it should be emphasized that there is an increased risk of fake profiles and identity theft, especially with business networks, as the business/professional environment of LinkedIn users is often described in detail.
In addition, some LinkedIn practices, such as pretending to be a member of existing LinkedIn user contacts and independently sending email invitations to join LinkedIn, can cause suspicion among LinkedIn users' circle of acquaintances or even damage their professional reputation.
LinkedIn users should therefore be particularly advised to prohibit LinkedIn from accessing address books and other external services and to deactivate the automatic sending of email invitations, as LinkedIn also contacts contacts outside its own network and stores their data. For additional security, the user can be advised to use LinkedIn only from the desktop in the browser and not to install any LinkedIn apps on their smartphone/mobile devices.

As a further remedial measure, continuous editorial support enables intervention in the event of comments that are defamatory or offensive to personality, up to and including blocking the account. The Medical Center - University of Freiburg has formulated a netiquette for the use of its website, which it will ensure is adhered to when maintaining the site.

4. result

LinkedIn use by the Medical Center - University of Freiburg is acceptable in view of the risks described and the binding measures provided for. The Medical Center - University of Freiburg undertakes to monitor further developments and to regularly repeat and, if necessary, further develop the review carried out here.

LinkedIn usage concept of the University Medical Center Freiburg University Medical Center

With around 12,000 employees, the Medical Center - University of Freiburg is one of the largest university hospitals in Germany. In its original task, the University Medical Center combines patient care, research and teaching, always with the aim of offering patients treatment based on the latest scientific findings today and in the future.

Public relations work for the Medical Center - University of Freiburg also takes place on LinkedIn. With the present usage concept, the Medical Center - University of Freiburg assumes its responsibility and role model function for the use of social media as a public body in accordance with the "Guidelines of the State Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (LfDI) on the use of social networks by public bodies". Please also note our data protection declaration and assessment of the consequences of LinkedIn use.

1. general information about LinkedIn

LinkedIn, based in Mountain View/USA, is a social career network for nursing care of existing business contacts and for establishing and linking new business connections. With over 350 million users, LinkedIn is currently the largest online professional network in the world. It is used internationally, particularly in English-speaking countries. This gives LinkedIn a large international reach compared to other career networks, such as Xing, which is mainly used in German-speaking countries. There is a free basic version, but premium services with additional functions can also be booked for a fee.

LinkedIn is primarily aimed at managers and specialists as well as people interested in careers in general. The network enables its users to communicate directly and exchange ideas with people who share the same professional interests. The network is also used for personnel recruiting; users present themselves as qualified employees, while companies and organizations present themselves as attractive employers. Although LinkedIn typically focuses on the professional sphere, many users also use the network to connect with private contacts.

You can create personal profiles or company pages on LinkedIn, although company pages can only be set up via a personal profile with administrator rights; there is no clear name policy. To use the network functions, you must be registered as a user. Some content shared by LinkedIn users can also be read without the need to register.

Contributions in the form of texts, photos, videos and live streams can be made available on LinkedIn. Registered users can use this service to publish their content free of charge, network with other users or company pages, comment on their posts, mark them with "Like" or "Unlike" and share them. Users can recommend or subscribe to company pages so that relevant posts are displayed in their own LinkedIn feed.

You can find more information about LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin

2 Purpose of the use of LinkedIn by the Medical Center - University of Freiburg

The LinkedIn company page of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg complements existing communication channels such as the website, press releases, newsletters, print products and events.

Social career networks are becoming increasingly important for success on the international job market. LinkedIn offers the advantage that we can reach these potential employees much more directly and quickly, especially with regard to our own employee recruitment, as interested users can simply subscribe to the company page. The LinkedIn presence of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg thus enables the widespread dissemination of posts and impressions of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg and the observation of the immediate reactions that follow.

LinkedIn can facilitate the communication of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, as the target groups can contact the Medical Center - University of Freiburg with questions, suggestions or criticism in a low-threshold and uncomplicated manner. LinkedIn enables fast and uncomplicated communication at eye level and can thus convey an informative and inviting image of the hospital with its offers, qualities and goals.

The Medical Center - University of Freiburg offers a wide range of career opportunities for international professionals. This results in a heterogeneous composition of employees and former employees, including those from outside German-speaking countries and non-European countries. Since many former employees of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg register independently on LinkedIn, the Medical Center - University of Freiburg uses this additional channel to inform its former employees worldwide about developments and topics at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg and to attract international employees to the Medical Center.

3 Type and scope of use of LinkedIn by the Medical Center - University of Freiburg

The Medical Center - University of Freiburg operates a company page on LinkedIn in the LinkedIn basic version with a logo and short profile.

The LinkedIn company page of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg informs users about current news from science, research and teaching and other interesting facts about everyday life at the hospital. Furthermore, the Medical Center - University of Freiburg displays its own job offers for the acquisition of qualified employees for the Medical Center - University of Freiburg .

4. responsibilities for editorial/technical support:

Responsibility for editorial support lies with Benjamin Waschow, Head of Corporate Communications and Press Spokesperson, and the associated Corporate Communications department, in particular the Social Media Team.

5. alternative information and contact options:

We would like to point out to users that the LinkedIn channel is merely an additional option for contacting or receiving information from the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. Alternatively, the information offered via LinkedIn can also be accessed via the corresponding links on our website at www.uniklinik-freiburg.de.

You can generally direct all inquiries to the central inbox of Corporate Communications at kommunikation@uniklinik-freiburg.de. You can also reach the social media team at kommunikation@uniklinik-freiburg.de.

You can reach the Medical Center - University of Freiburg by telephone on 0761 270-0. The switchboard is manned 24 hours a day.

Visiting address:
Hugstetter Straße 55
79106 Freiburg

You can find an overview of the various ways to contact the Medical Center - University of Freiburg here: www.uniklinik-freiburg.de/so-finden-sie-uns/lageplaene

6. voluntary commitment

We evaluate this utilization concept once a year with regard to whether and how it is used. This evaluation of the usage concept takes into account the usage figures and reach as well as the target group structure of the networks.

Pressemitteilungen