DFB

Social Media Policy

Netiquette

Dear followers,

We’re delighted that you follow the DFB on its social media platforms and keep up to date with everything happening in German football.

Just as on the pitch, there are certain rules of the game that apply under our social media posts.

Football is all about emotion and passion, both on and off the pitch. Support, questions and criticism are therefore all equally welcome on our channels. Fair play, respect and tolerance are essential, however.

The General Provisions in section 2 of the DFB Statutes state that the DFB “firmly opposes every form of discriminatory or inhumane attitudes and behaviour. The same applies to every form of violence (…)”. This also applies to comments on the DFB’s social media platforms. We will show a red card to and delete or hide comments that are:

dehumanising
glorify violence
discriminatory or defamatory (on the grounds of origin, religion, nationality, physical condition, sexual identity, gender, income or age)
obscene
abusive (hate speech or incitement)
threatening

The same applies to comments containing advertising, such as spam or links unrelated to the topic, comments that are clearly generated by automated bots, and comments containing demonstrably false information.

The DFB’s social media channels use a filter that responds to certain character strings, keywords and emojis that may indicate the types of content listed above. This may occasionally result in harmless comments being temporarily hidden.

Anyone who repeatedly breaches our netiquette will be blocked. We also reserve the right to take legal action in relation to comments that may constitute a criminal offence.

Thank you for your understanding,

The DFB Social Media Team

Social Media Policy

Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V. (DFB e.V.) and DFB GmbH & Co. KG (DFB GmbH), hereinafter collectively referred to as the “DFB”, maintain social media accounts on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok, BeReal, Twitch and YouTube. Social networks can generally analyse your user behaviour extensively. This applies in particular when you use the respective networks to visit our social media accounts. The platform operators may then record your visit and associate it with your user account. Even if you are not logged in, information may still be collected, for example via your IP address, browser details, cookies or other tracking technologies. The information collected in this way may be used by the operators of social networks to create profiles. These may include information about your (presumed) interests and preferences, which can be used to display personalised advertising. The DFB is unable to track all of the data-processing activities carried out within social networks and generally has no access to this data. We therefore provide the following information with reference to the privacy policies of the respective networks. Information about data protection on the individual platforms can be found below. Further information about data processing by the DFB can be found in our privacy policies. Information about our use of cookies, such as the Facebook “Pixel”, can be found in our Usercentrics consent management platform.

I. Legal notice

Responsibility for the content of our social media accounts pursuant to section 5 of the German Telemedia Act (TMG) lies with:

DFB e.V. for the following accounts:

DFB Verband (Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn)
DFB Channel (YouTube, BeReal)
Germany Men’s National Team (Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads)
Germany Women’s National Team (Facebook, X, Instagram, Threads)
DFB Youth Teams (Facebook, X, Instagram)
DFB Fan Club Nationalmannschaft (Facebook, X, Instagram)
DFB-Pokal (Facebook, Instagram)
Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga (Facebook, Instagram)
3. Liga (Facebook, Instagram)
Fussball.de (Facebook, Instagram)
DFB Referees (Facebook, X, Instagram)
Futsal (Instagram)
German Football (International – Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube)

Legal notice details can be found at www.dfb.de/en/imprint/.

DFB GmbH & Co. KG for the following accounts:

DFB eSports (X, Instagram, Twitch)
DFB Channel (TikTok)

Legal notice details can be found at https://www.fussball.de/imprint/.

II. Privacy Policy for our Facebook Page

1. Controllers

The DFB maintains profiles on the social network Facebook, a Meta product. Where the means and purposes of processing are determined solely by the DFB, the following entities are jointly responsible for the processing:

DFB e.V., DFB-Campus, Kennedyallee 274, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, represented by President Bernd Neuendorf and Treasurer Stephan Grunwald, info@dfb.de, phone: 069-67880, fax: 069-6788266

and

DFB GmbH & Co. KG, DFB-Campus, Kennedyallee 274, 60596 Frankfurt am Main. Its general partner authorised to represent the company is DFB-Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, DFB-Campus, Kennedyallee 274, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, represented by Managing Directors Dr Holger Blask, Stephan Grunwald, Manuel Hartmann and Andreas Rettig. Phone: 069-67 88 0, fax: 069-67 88 266

(together: DFB).

The data protection officers of the DFB companies can be contacted at datenschutz@dfb.de.

Where personal data relating to our Facebook Page or content submitted by you is processed by Facebook or Meta Platforms Ireland Limited (formerly Facebook Ireland Limited) and by us, and the DFB is able to jointly determine the purposes and means of that processing, Facebook and the DFB are joint controllers within the meaning of Article 26(1), sentence 1 GDPR. This applies in particular to the Facebook Insights data described in section 2.2. In all other cases in which data is processed in connection with our Facebook Page and Facebook determines the purposes and means of that processing, Meta Platforms Ireland Limited acts as the sole controller:

Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd.
4 Grand Canal Square
Grand Canal Harbour
Dublin 2
Ireland

You can contact the data protection officer of Facebook or Meta Platforms Ireland Limited via the following link: https://www.facebook.com/help/contact/540977946302970.

For information about how Facebook or Meta Platforms Ireland Limited processes your personal data, please refer to Facebook’s privacy policy: https://www.facebook.com/policy.php.

2. Processing of personal data when using our Facebook Page

When you use our Facebook Page, the following personal data is processed:

2.1 Usage data and statistics

When you use Facebook and visit our social media profile, personal data is processed by the operator of the social network. This includes, for example, information about views of pages, posts, videos, stories or other content associated with the Facebook Page; interactions with stories; subscriptions; likes; recommendations of posts or comments; sharing, reactions or comments on posts; reports of posts or requests to hide posts; clicks on links on other pages leading to the Facebook Page; hovering over names or profile pictures to preview content; clicks on buttons on a Facebook Page; and information about the device (computer or mobile device) on which you are logged in.

It may also include information about views of and responses to events, clicks on links for event tickets, the initiation of Messenger conversations and views of Facebook Page shops, together with information relating to such actions such as the date and time of the action, country/city (estimated on the basis of the IP address or, for logged-in users, imported from the user profile), language code (from the browser’s HTTP header and/or language settings), age/gender groups (from the user profile, for logged-in users only), previously visited websites (from the browser’s HTTP header), whether the action was performed on a computer or mobile device (from the browser user agent or app attributes) and the Facebook user ID (for logged-in users only).

This data is processed by Facebook (or Meta Platforms Ireland Limited) as the operator of the social network and cannot be accessed by us. The legal basis for this processing is set out in Facebook’s privacy policy, available at https://www.facebook.com/policy.php.

2.2 Facebook Insights

We only receive usage data in aggregated form via Facebook’s “Page Insights” tool (https://www.facebook.com/business/a/page/page-insights and https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/information_about_page_insights_data), referred to below as “Insights Data”. We cannot associate Insights Data with individual users.

We and Facebook are “joint controllers” for the processing of Insights Data. This means that Facebook and the DFB process this data for the shared purpose of gaining an understanding of how visitors use our Facebook Page. As the platform operator, Facebook collects detailed usage data from you; we only receive aggregated Insights Data from Facebook. Facebook therefore makes the decisions regarding the processing of usage data in connection with Page Insights.

Where such joint controllership exists, the EU General Data Protection Regulation requires us to enter into an agreement with Facebook. This agreement is available at https://www.facebook.com/legal/terms/page_controller_addendum. It contains further details and explanations regarding our joint controllership with Facebook in connection with Page Insights.

We process this data for the technical administration and provision of the Facebook Page and to obtain statistical information about the use of our Facebook Page. The legal basis for this processing is Article 6(1), sentence 1, point (f) GDPR (legitimate interests). Our legitimate interest lies in administering and improving the Facebook Page. Additional legal bases determined by Facebook may also apply to Facebook’s processing of personal data.

2.3 Likes, posts and messages

When you use our Facebook Page, the following personal data is processed:

your Facebook username and profile picture;
your click-based interactions with our posts (“likes”, “shares”, “follows”, etc.); and
your comments, posts, messages and other content that you make available to us via the Facebook Page.

This data is processed in order to make your content, the Facebook Page and the Facebook Page experience available to you and to other users of the Facebook Page and our other media services. The legal basis for this processing is Article 6(1), sentence 1, point (f) GDPR (legitimate interests). Our legitimate interests are interacting with our followers and other users interested in our social media services, increasing the reach of our products (advertising) and, where applicable, responding to your enquiry.

2.4 Contact and other use of our Facebook Page

If you contact us via Facebook, the legal basis for processing is our legitimate interest pursuant to Article 6(1), sentence 1, point (f) GDPR. The legitimate interest consists of responding to your enquiry.

3. Data transfers to the USA

In order to provide the Facebook Page on the Facebook platform, your personal data is processed by Meta Platforms Ireland Limited and transferred to Facebook Inc. in the USA, as well as to other third countries as described at https://www.facebook.com/policy.php. Facebook uses the standard contractual clauses approved by the European Commission for this purpose. Further information can be found at https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum and https://www.facebook.com/help/566994660333381.

4. Facebook’s use of cookies

When you visit Facebook, irrespective of whether you visit our Facebook Page, Facebook places cookies and similar trackers on your device. If you are also logged in to Facebook, Facebook is able to determine that you have visited our Facebook Page and how you used it. The same applies to all other Facebook Pages.

Facebook provides general information about the cookies it uses, the information it obtains through these cookies, how that information is used, how long it is stored by Facebook and which third parties it is shared with in its data policy. This also contains information on how to contact Facebook and on settings for advertisements. The data policy is available at https://www.facebook.com/policy.php.

You can delete Facebook cookies, for example, via http://www.youronlinechoices.com/de/praferenzmanagement/.

III. Instagram

1. Controllers

The DFB maintains a profile on Instagram. Where the means and purposes of processing are determined solely by the DFB, the following entities are jointly responsible for the processing:

DFB e.V., DFB-Campus, Kennedyallee 274, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, represented by President Bernd Neuendorf and Treasurer Stephan Grunwald, info@dfb.de, phone: 069-67880, fax: 069-6788266

and

(together: DFB).

The data protection officers of the DFB companies can be contacted at datenschutz@dfb.de.

In all other cases in which data is processed in connection with our Instagram profile and Instagram determines the purposes and means of that processing, Meta Platforms Ireland Limited (formerly Facebook Ireland Limited) acts as the sole controller:

Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd.
4 Grand Canal Square
Grand Canal Harbour
Dublin 2
Ireland

You can contact the data protection officer of Instagram or Meta Platforms Ireland via the following link: https://www.facebook.com/help/contact/540977946302970.

Where personal data relating to our Instagram page or content submitted by you is processed by Instagram or Meta Platforms Ireland and by us, and the DFB is able to jointly determine the purposes and means of that processing, Facebook or Meta Platforms Ireland and the DFB are joint controllers within the meaning of Article 26(1), sentence 1 GDPR.

2. Processing of personal data when using our Instagram profile

2.1 Usage data and statistics

Information about the processing of personal data when using Meta services such as our Instagram profile is set out in Instagram’s privacy policy, available at http://instagram.com/legal/privacy/.

This includes the categories of personal data (I.), the respective purposes (II.), recipients of personal data (III. and IV.), the legal basis (V.) and information about your rights and how to exercise them in relation to Instagram (VI.). You will also find information about storage periods and the deletion of information (VII.).

This section also contains information about your right to object to certain types of personal-data processing. Further information about the controls available to you can be found in the relevant Help Centre article. The privacy policy also contains information on how long personal data is stored, the criteria used to determine those periods and the option to deactivate or delete Instagram accounts (see VII.).

This data is processed by Meta as the operator of the social network and cannot be accessed by us. The legal basis for this processing is set out in Meta’s privacy policy, available at http://instagram.com/legal/privacy/.

2.2 Data processing when interacting with our Instagram profile

Our Instagram profile allows you to follow us and interact with our posts, in particular by commenting on them and sending us private messages. If you contact us, please consider whether you wish to send the relevant information via Instagram or whether another means of contacting us would be more appropriate.

Please also note that, depending on your privacy settings, we may be able to access information stored on your profile in the same way as any other user.

If you contact us via Instagram, the legal basis for processing is our legitimate interest pursuant to Article 6(1), sentence 1, point (f) GDPR. The legitimate interest consists of responding to your enquiry.

2.3 Processing anonymised data for statistical purposes

We have set up our Instagram page as a business profile and use anonymised page statistics (“Instagram Insights”) provided by Meta Platforms Ireland Limited. These provide us with information about visitors to our Instagram page and their interactions with our page and its content. We do not contribute to decisions regarding the means and purposes of processing event data used to generate page statistics. The statistics include the following information:

reach, page views and viewing time for video posts;
interactions such as liking, commenting on or sharing posts; and
demographic information relating to age, gender and location.

Instagram processes this data for measurement and analysis purposes. We receive aggregated statistics from Instagram and use this data to identify trends. We are unable to trace the data back to individuals whose actions generated the relevant events.

Data transfers to the USA

In order to provide the page on the Instagram platform, your personal data is processed by Meta Platforms Ireland Limited and transferred to Meta Platforms, Inc. in the USA, as well as to other third countries as described at https://www.facebook.com/policy.php. Meta uses the standard contractual clauses approved by the European Commission for this purpose. Further information can be found at https://www.facebook.com/legal/EU_data_transfer_addendum and https://www.facebook.com/help/566994660333381.

5. Information on Facebook’s use of cookies

When you visit Instagram, irrespective of whether you visit our Instagram profile, Facebook places cookies and similar trackers on your device. If you are also logged in to Instagram, Facebook is able to determine that you have visited our Instagram profile and how you used it. The same applies to all other Facebook Pages.

Information about the cookies used by Instagram, the information Meta obtains through these cookies, how it is used, how long it is stored by Meta and which third-party partners it is shared with can be found in Instagram’s information on cookies: https://help.instagram.com/1896641480634370?ref=ig.

IV. X

1. Controllers

The DFB maintains a profile on X. Where the means and purposes of processing are determined solely by the DFB, the following entities are jointly responsible for the processing:

DFB e.V., DFB-Campus, Kennedyallee 274, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, represented by President Bernd Neuendorf and Treasurer Stephan Grunwald, info@dfb.de, phone: 069-67880, fax: 069-6788266

and

(together: DFB).

The data protection officers of the DFB companies can be contacted at datenschutz@dfb.de.

In all other cases in which data is processed in connection with our X profile and X determines the purposes and means of that processing, X acts as the sole controller:

X Corp.
1355 Market Street, Suite 900
San Francisco, CA 94103

2. Information on the processing of personal data on X

Information about the processing of personal data when using X is set out in its privacy policy, available at https://x.com/de/privacy.

3. Processing of personal data for statistical purposes

X provides the option of recording views of our content for statistical purposes. We do not contribute to decisions regarding the means and purposes of processing event data used to generate page statistics.

X processes this data for measurement and analysis purposes. We receive aggregated statistics and use this data to analyse the reach of our posts.

4. Processing of personal data when interacting with our posts

Our X profiles allow you to follow us and interact with our posts, in particular by commenting on them and sending us private messages. If you contact us, please consider whether you wish to send the relevant information via X or whether another means of contacting us would be more appropriate.

Please also note that, depending on your privacy settings, we may be able to access information stored on your X profile in the same way as any other user.

If you interact with us via X, the legal basis for processing is our legitimate interest pursuant to Article 6(1), sentence 1, point (f) GDPR. Our legitimate interests are interacting with our followers and other users interested in our social media services, increasing the reach of our products (advertising) and, where applicable, responding to your enquiry.

V. YouTube

1. Controllers

The DFB maintains a profile on the video-hosting platform YouTube. Where the means and purposes of processing are determined solely by the DFB, the following entities are jointly responsible for the processing:

DFB e.V., DFB-Campus, Kennedyallee 274, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, represented by President Bernd Neuendorf and Treasurer Stephan Grunwald, info@dfb.de, phone: 069-67880, fax: 069-6788266

and

(together: DFB).

The data protection officers of the DFB companies can be contacted at datenschutz@dfb.de.

In all other cases in which data is processed in connection with our YouTube profile and YouTube determines the purposes and means of that processing, YouTube acts as the sole controller:

Google Ireland Limited
Gordon House
Barrow Street
Dublin 4
Ireland

2. Information on the processing of personal data on YouTube

Information about the processing of personal data when using YouTube is set out in its privacy policy, available at https://policies.google.com/privacy.

3. Processing anonymised data for statistical purposes

YouTube provides the option of recording video views for statistical purposes. We do not contribute to decisions regarding the means and purposes of processing event data used to generate page statistics.

YouTube processes this data for measurement and analysis purposes. We receive only aggregated statistics and use this data to assess the reach of our video posts. We are unable to trace the data back to individuals.

4. Processing of personal data when interacting with our posts

YouTube allows you to interact with our posts, in particular by commenting on them. If you contact us via the comments section, please consider whether you wish to submit the relevant information publicly via YouTube or whether another means of contacting us would be more appropriate.

Please also note that, depending on your privacy settings, we may be able to access information stored on your YouTube profile in the same way as any other user.

If you interact with us via YouTube, the legal basis for processing is our legitimate interest pursuant to Article 6(1), sentence 1, point (f) GDPR. Our legitimate interests are interacting with our followers and other users interested in our social media services, increasing the reach of our products (advertising) and, where applicable, responding to your enquiry.

VI. Twitch

1. Controllers

The DFB uses services provided by the streaming platform Twitch. Where the means and purposes of processing are determined solely by the DFB, the following entities are jointly responsible for the processing:

DFB e.V., DFB-Campus, Kennedyallee 274, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, represented by President Bernd Neuendorf and Treasurer Stephan Grunwald, info@dfb.de, phone: 069-67880, fax: 069-6788266

and

(together: DFB).

The data protection officers of the DFB companies can be contacted at datenschutz@dfb.de.

In all other cases in which data is processed in connection with our Twitch profile and Twitch determines the purposes and means of that processing, Twitch acts as the sole controller:

Twitch Interactive, Inc.
350 Bush Street
Second Floor
San Francisco, CA 94104
USA

2. Information on the processing of personal data on Twitch

Information about the processing of personal data when using Twitch is set out in its privacy policy, available at https://www.twitch.tv/p/legal/privacy-notice/.

Please also refer to Twitch’s Cookie Policy, available at https://www.twitch.tv/p/legal/privacy-notice/.

3. Processing of personal data when interacting with our posts

Twitch allows you to follow us and interact with our posts, in particular by liking, sharing or commenting on them. If you contact us via the platform, please consider whether you wish to submit the relevant information publicly via Twitch or whether another means of contacting us would be more appropriate.

Please also note that, depending on your privacy settings, we may be able to access information stored on your Twitch profile in the same way as any other user.

If you interact with us via Twitch, the legal basis for processing is our legitimate interest pursuant to Article 6(1), sentence 1, point (f) GDPR. Our legitimate interests are interacting with our followers and other users interested in our social media services, increasing the reach of our products (advertising) and, where applicable, responding to your enquiry.

VII. TikTok

1. Controllers

The DFB uses services provided by the TikTok video platform. Where the means and purposes of processing are determined solely by the DFB, the following entities are jointly responsible for the processing:

DFB e.V., DFB-Campus, Kennedyallee 274, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, represented by President Bernd Neuendorf and Treasurer Stephan Grunwald, info@dfb.de, phone: 069-67880, fax: 069-6788266

and

(together: DFB).

The data protection officers of the DFB companies can be contacted at datenschutz@dfb.de.

In all other cases in which data is processed in connection with our TikTok profile and TikTok determines the purposes and means of that processing, TikTok acts as the sole controller:

TikTok Technology Limited
10 Earlsfort Terrace
Dublin
D02 T380
Ireland

2. Information on the processing of personal data on TikTok

Information about the processing of personal data when using TikTok is set out in its privacy policy, available at https://www.tiktok.com/legal/privacy-policy-eea.

3. Processing of personal data when interacting with our posts

TikTok allows you to follow us and interact with our posts, in particular by liking, sharing or commenting on them. If you contact us via the platform, for example via the comments function, please consider whether you wish to submit the relevant information publicly via TikTok or whether another means of contacting us would be more appropriate.

Please also note that, depending on your privacy settings, we may be able to access information stored on your TikTok profile in the same way as any other user.

If you interact with us via TikTok, the legal basis for processing is our legitimate interest pursuant to Article 6(1), sentence 1, point (f) GDPR. Our legitimate interests are interacting with our followers and other users interested in our social media services, increasing the reach of our products (advertising) and, where applicable, responding to your enquiry.

Social Media Policy

Netiquette

Social Media Policy

I. Legal notice

II. Privacy Policy for our Facebook Page

III. Instagram

IV. X

V. YouTube

VI. Twitch

VII. TikTok

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