Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 14th September 2026

1. Introduction

Platform Engineering Masters GmbH ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you visit and interact with our website, https://platformengineering.org/ (the "Site"), or apply for a role or otherwise participate in our recruitment process. By accessing or using our Site, you agree to this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with any part of this policy, please do not use the Site.

2. Data Controller

Platform Engineering Masters GmbH
Wöhlertstraße 12/13
10115 Berlin, Germany
Email: info@platformengineering.org

For the purposes of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other applicable data protection laws, Platform Engineering Masters GmbH is the data controller responsible for your personal information collected through the Site or through our recruitment process.

3. Information We Collect

We may collect and process the following categories of personal data:

a. Information You Provide Voluntarily:

Contact Information: When you contact us via email, sign up for our newsletter, or submit inquiries, we may collect your name, email address, and other contact details.
Content Submissions: If you participate in discussions, forums, or submit content, we may collect any personal information you include in your submissions.

b. Information Collected Automatically:

Usage Data: We collect information about how you use our Site, such as your IP address, browser type, device information, and pages viewed.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies and similar technologies to track your activity on our Site. You can manage your cookie preferences by adjusting your settings at any time through our Cookie Settings.

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c. Candidate and Recruitment Information:

Contact Information: Your name, email address, telephone number, location, and other contact details provided during recruitment.
Application Information: Your CV or résumé, employment history, education, qualifications, skills, and other information provided as part of your application.
Professional Profiles: Information from professional sources such as LinkedIn, GitHub, portfolios, or personal websites where relevant to your application.
Recruitment Information: Interview notes, assessments, interviewer feedback, communications with you, salary expectations, notice period, and availability.
References and Checks: References and information collected as part of appropriate pre-employment checks, where applicable.
Other Information: Any other information you choose to provide during the recruitment process.
Interview Transcription and Notes: Where we use transcription or AI-assisted note-taking technology during an interview, interview audio may be processed to generate a transcript, summary, or interview notes.

4. How We Use Your Information

We process your personal data for the following purposes:

To Provide and Improve Our Services: We use your information to operate, maintain, and enhance the Site and our services.
To Communicate with You: We may use your contact information to respond to your inquiries and send you updates, newsletters, and other information you have requested.
For Analytics and Site Performance: We use usage data and cookies to analyze Site performance and improve user experience.
For Recruitment: Where you apply for a role with us, we use your information to administer your application, communicate with you, assess your skills, experience and suitability for a role, conduct interviews and assessments, make recruitment decisions, maintain appropriate recruitment records, and carry out relevant pre-employment checks where necessary.‍
AI-Assisted Interview Note-Taking and Transcription: As part of our recruitment process, we may use transcription or AI-assisted note-taking technology during interviews to help our interviewers maintain accurate records and focus on the conversation rather than taking detailed notes. Where such technology is used, interview audio may be processed to generate a transcript, summary, or interview notes. These tools support our interviewers and hiring teams. We do not use solely automated decision-making to determine whether a candidate progresses through our recruitment process or receives an offer; recruitment decisions are made by people.
To Comply with Legal Obligations: We may process your information to comply with legal and regulatory obligations.

5. Legal Basis for Processing

Under the GDPR, we rely on the following legal bases to process your personal data:

Consent: When you have given us explicit consent to process your data (e.g., subscribing to our newsletter).
Contractual Necessity: When processing is necessary to fulfill a contract with you (e.g., responding to your inquiries).
Legitimate Interests: When processing is necessary for our legitimate interests, provided that your rights do not override those interests (e.g., improving Site functionality).
Legal Obligation: When we are required to process your data to comply with legal obligations.
Recruitment and Employment Purposes: Where you apply for a role with Platform Engineering Masters GmbH, we process personal data as necessary to assess your application and take steps in connection with a potential employment or working relationship, in accordance with applicable data protection and employment laws.

6. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. However, we may share your data in the following circumstances:

Service Providers: We may share your information with third-party service providers who assist us with Site operations, analytics, communications, or recruitment. For recruitment, this may include providers of applicant tracking systems, interview scheduling, communications, transcription, and AI-assisted note-taking services. These providers are obligated to protect your data and only process it in accordance with our instructions.
Recruitment and Hiring: Candidate information may be shared with employees and team members involved in assessing candidates and making recruitment decisions.
Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or governmental request.
Business Transfers: If Platform Engineering Masters GmbH is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the new entity.
Event Organizers: If you register for or participate in specific events through our Site, we may share your information with the event organizers. However, this will only occur with your additional opt-in consent on an event-by-event basis. You will be informed and given the option to consent before your information is shared with any event organizer.

7. International Data Transfers

Your personal data may be transferred to, and processed in, countries outside of the European Economic Area (EEA). When we transfer data outside the EEA, we ensure that appropriate safeguards, such as Standard Contractual Clauses, are in place to protect your information in accordance with GDPR requirements.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. When your data is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymize it.

Candidate Data

If your application is unsuccessful or you withdraw your application, we will generally retain personal data relating to your application and recruitment process for up to six months following the conclusion of your application, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

We may retain candidate information for longer where you have agreed to be considered for future opportunities or where retention is necessary in connection with a legal claim.
If you join Platform Engineering, relevant information collected during the recruitment process may become part of your employment or contractor record and will be retained in accordance with our applicable data retention practices.

9. Your Rights

Under the GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

Right of Access: You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
Right to Rectification: You can request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete data.
Right to Erasure: You can request that we delete your personal data, subject to certain legal exceptions.
Right to Restrict Processing: You can request that we limit the processing of your personal data under certain conditions.
Right to Data Portability: You can request a copy of your personal data in a structured, machine-readable format.
Right to Object: You can object to our processing of your personal data in certain circumstances.
Right to Withdraw Consent: If we are processing your data based on your consent, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@platformengineering.org.

10. Security

We take the security of your personal data seriously and implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect it from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. However, no method of data transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

11. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience on our Site. You can manage your cookie preferences through our Cookie Settings.