While accessing scientific content online, users are subject to data tracking, allowing publishers to gather and commercially exploit their information.
Publishers and providers of scientific information mark articles from specialist journals with unique IDs, track user behavior and activities on their websites and record, for example, the time spent on the site, the reading and typing speed or the search terms used. They then create profiles and analyze them for their own purposes without the consent of the users. You can find more information on this in the information paper Data Tracking in Research of the German Research Foundation (DFG, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft).
Does the University Library track your data?
No tracking tools are used when using the University Library's own services such as our Research Portal. Your loan history will not be saved either. When you return the media, the loan data will be deleted from the library system. Past media loans cannot be tracked retroactively.
You will also not be tracked when using the Database Information System (DBIS) and the Electronic Journal Library (EZB). Once you click on a link to an external information provider in DBIS or EZB, you leave the University Library’s domain and may be tracked by the respective provider (publisher).
How can you protect yourself from data tracking?
Complete protection against data tracking by publishers is not possible. To protect yourself from standard data tracking on websites, enable your browser’s privacy tools (such as Firefox Enhanced Tracking Protection) and consider the guidelines provided by Digitalcourage e.V. and the Electronic Frontier Foundation . Aim for a balance between safeguarding your data and ensuring access to essential information.
Many publishers offer you the option of setting up personal accounts with which you can save your reading preferences and your research history, for example. To minimize tracking, we suggest refraining from using these functions, as personalized accounts increase traceability. Generally, most scientific resources licensed by the University Library can be accessed without personal publisher accounts.