Netiquette for Digital Communication at Goethe University Frankfurt
Goethe University Frankfurt considers itself as an institution whose employees, students and guests engage in appreciative communication and respectful interaction, and a place where personal integrity and self-respect are safeguarded. The same principles apply to digital communication and social media channels. All members, affiliates and guests of Goethe University agree to abide by the following rules for digital communication.
Respectful communication is the basis of human interaction in the digital realm. Always phrase messages and chat contributions, criticism and arguments in an appreciative, polite, relevant and constructive manner. Goethe University does not tolerate discriminatory or otherwise hurtful or derogatory comments. All forms of cyber-bullying, insults, harassment, stalking, and hate speech are to be refrained from. Content that involves personal attacks, discrimination as well as threats of or incitements to violence against any person or group of persons, institution or company will not be tolerated. Goethe University reserves the right to delete calls for participation in manifestly inhumane and discriminatory events in teaching and learning spaces and social media channels.
All individuals using Goethe University‘s spaces of digital communication are entitled to the protection of their privacy and their personal or personally identifiable information and the respect of their confidentiality. Every individual has the right to determine whether images of their own person are taken, or how they are used.
The unlawful processing of personal data without informed and voluntary consent, in particular the unlawful publication of personal or confidential data (e.g. e-mail correspondence or personal data), as well as the violation of privacy and the self-determination of individuals are prohibited. Personal data includes names, addresses, private e-mail addresses, telephone numbers or IP addresses. This provision also applies to data that is particularly sensitive by its nature with regard to an individual’s fundamental rights and freedoms, such as health data, religious or ideological beliefs, or sexual orientation.
Goethe University promotes ethical awareness among its members with regard to the value of privacy as well as respect for confidentiality, fundamental rights and freedoms in digital spaces, and advocates data protection both by means of technology design (Privacy by Design) and through privacy-friendly default settings (Privacy by Default).
The publication and other forms of processing of images, screenshots, videos, voice recordings and similar data is not permitted in Goethe University’s digital communication spaces and social media channels without the consent of the person holding the rights thereto (authors, holders of usage rights, persons depicted). Citations of someone else’s and/or copyrighted material must include the correct source and copyright information.
Advertising for political parties, religious institutions or interest groups is not permitted in Goethe University’s digital teaching and learning spaces or social media channels without the consent of the university and/or the management of the institutions responsible for publication. Without the aforementioned consent, the university’s digital communication spaces may not be used to offer commercial content, private goods or services. The only exemption are faculty announcements and recommendations for third party- and own textbooks and materials.
Users are to refrain from displaying inappropriate and non-factual content. The same applies to the repetitive and disrupting dissemination of identical or similar content, e.g. in chats or social media channels.
Comments on Goethe University posts are not attributable to Goethe University. Automatically generated/machine-based comments will be removed.
That means checking and upholding the respective (business) conditions and declarations (e.g. data protection declarations, cookies or privacy policies) before using digital offers.
Goethe University websites are only intended for persons aged 16 and above. Minors should only be able to submit personal data to Goethe University either directly or via its social media channels with the consent of their parents or guardians.
In a case if the listed communication rules are disregarded, Goethe University reserves the right to apply appropriate measures, including:
Based on its policies and statutes as well as legal regulations, Goethe University may initiate further measures and sanctions to protect data subjects. It also reserves the right to take appropriate action in the event of criminal conduct. Goethe University will regularly review this Netiquette with regard to actuality and revise it if necessary.