1. Introduction
Kognet takes your privacy very seriously. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, store, use, share, and otherwise process your personal information in connection with your use of kognet.de and related services. Please read this carefully, as it contains important information about your rights and our obligations.
This Policy applies to all visitors and users of kognet.de, including users located in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, Switzerland, the United States, and anywhere else in the world.
2. Key Definitions
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| “We / Us / Our” | Kognet, the operator of kognet.de |
| “You / Your” | The individual visiting or using kognet.de |
| “Personal Information” | Any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person |
| “Services” | kognet.de and all associated sub-domains and services offered therein |
| “Processing” | Any operation performed on personal data (collection, storage, use, disclosure) |
3. Information We Collect
3.1 Information You Provide Directly
- Name and email address (when you contact us via email)
- Any information voluntarily submitted via email or feedback correspondence
- Any content you submit or post to the site, where applicable
3.2 Information Collected Automatically
- IP address (used at country/region level — non-precise)
- Browser type and version
- Device type, operating system, and device identifiers
- Pages visited, time spent on pages, referral URLs, and traffic data
- Interaction data (clicks, scrolls, engagement metrics)
- Search queries and content consumed where applicable
3.3 Tracking Technologies Used
- Cookies — small text files placed on your device
- Session cookies — expire when you close your browser
- Persistent cookies — remain until their expiry date or you delete them
- Flash cookies / local storage objects — used for certain site features
- Web beacons / pixel tags / clear GIFs — used to count page visits and track user activity
- Device fingerprinting — used to identify a device through its hardware and software characteristics
- Do Not Track (DNT) — your browser may send a DNT signal; we do not currently alter data collection in response to DNT signals (see §5.3)
3.4 Sensitive Data NOT Collected
We do not collect payment details, government-issued IDs, financial account numbers, medical records, or other special-category data as defined under GDPR Article 9.
4. How and Why We Use Your Information
- Provide, operate, and improve the Website and Services
- Understand how visitors use the site (traffic analysis and performance)
- Serve relevant advertising (see ad-specific sections §6–§9 below)
- Respond to inquiries, feedback, and support requests
- Monitor site security and prevent fraudulent activity (IAB TCF Special Purpose 1)
- Deliver and present advertising and content (IAB TCF Special Purpose 2)
- Save and communicate your privacy choices (IAB TCF Special Purpose 3)
- Comply with legal obligations under GDPR, UK GDPR, and CCPA
- Enforce our Terms of Service and protect our legal rights
5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Essential (Strictly Necessary)
Required for core site functionality. Cannot be disabled without breaking the site. Legal basis: Legitimate interest — Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR.
Performance / Analytics
Google Analytics — counts visits, identifies popular content, improves performance. Data anonymised where possible. Legal basis: Your consent.
Advertising / Targeting
Google AdSense (DoubleClick DART cookie), AFS/RSOC search ad cookies, video ad cookies. Used to serve relevant ads and measure performance. Legal basis: Your consent.
Functional / Preference
Remembers language, layout preferences, and return-visit settings. Legal basis: Your consent or legitimate interest depending on usage.
5.1 EEA / UK / Switzerland — Cookie Consent (GDPR + Google EUUCP)
- Non-essential cookies (advertising, analytics, profiling) are NOT activated until you provide explicit, affirmative consent.
- Our CMP is Google-certified and integrated with IAB Europe’s Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF) v2.3 (Policies v2025-01-16.5.0.a).
- Default state: OFF for all non-essential Purposes. You must take a clear affirmative action (e.g. click “Accept All”) to grant consent.
- You may accept all, customise per Vendor/Purpose, or decline non-essential cookies at any time.
- You may withdraw consent at any time via “Privacy Settings” in our site footer. Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of prior processing.
- If “Accept All” is offered, an equivalent “Withdraw All Consent” option is available when you resurface the CMP.
IAB TCF v2.3 Purposes Declared on This Site
| Purpose | Description | Legal Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose 1 | Store and/or access information on a device | Consent |
| Purpose 2 | Use limited data to select advertising | Consent / Legit Interest |
| Purpose 3 | Create profiles for personalised advertising | Consent |
| Purpose 4 | Use profiles to select personalised advertising | Consent |
| Purpose 7 | Measure advertising performance | Consent / Legit Interest |
| Purpose 9 | Understand audiences through statistics | Consent / Legit Interest |
| Purpose 10 | Develop and improve services | Consent / Legit Interest |
| Special Purpose 1 | Ensure security, prevent and detect fraud | Legitimate Interest |
| Special Purpose 2 | Deliver and present advertising and content | Legitimate Interest |
| Special Purpose 3 | Save and communicate privacy choices | Legitimate Interest |
5.2 Cookie Opt-Out Options
- Google Analytics opt-out: tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
- Google Ads Settings: adssettings.google.com
- Network Advertising Initiative: optout.networkadvertising.org
- Digital Advertising Alliance (US): optout.aboutads.info
- Your Online Choices (EU): www.youronlinechoices.eu
- Browser settings (varies by browser — see your browser’s help section)
5.3 Do Not Track (DNT)
Your browser may allow you to transmit a “Do Not Track” signal. There is currently no industry-wide consensus on how sites should respond. Unless and until law requires otherwise, we do not alter our data collection or tracking practices in response to DNT signals. For more information: www.allaboutdnt.com
6. Google AdSense and Display Advertising
Kognet uses Google AdSense to display third-party advertisements. Google AdSense is operated by:
- EEA / UK users: Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland
- All other users: Google LLC, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA
Google AdSense uses the DoubleClick DART cookie and related ad technology cookies to serve ads based on:
- Your prior visits to this and other websites in Google’s network
- Your approximate location (country / region — non-precise, not GPS)
- Your device type, browser type, and language settings
- Contextual signals from the content of the page you are viewing
- Browsing history and inferred interests (where consent is given)
- Opt out of personalised advertising: adssettings.google.com
- How Google uses data from partner sites: policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites
- Google Business Data Responsibility: business.safety.google/privacy/
7. Google AdSense for Search / RSOC (AFS)
This website may display search-based advertisements powered by Google AdSense for Search (AFS) and Related Search on Content (RSOC). These units show contextually relevant search-term suggestions that, when clicked, display paid search results from Google’s Search Partner Network.
- Suggestion units are generated from page content and contextual signals
- Clicking a suggested term may load paid advertiser results
- Revenue is earned per qualifying click through Google’s AFS program
- No additional personal data beyond standard AdSense cookies is collected specifically by these units
Legal basis for EEA/UK/Switzerland users: Consent — Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR
Legal basis for non-EEA users: Legitimate interest — standard ad serving
Opt out: adssettings.google.com
8. Video Advertising
This website may display video advertisements including:
- Outstream video ads (within article content, autoplay muted)
- Interstitial video ads (between page sections)
- In-stream video ads (within video player content where applicable)
Video ads may be served by Google (Interactive Media Ads / IMA SDK) and other IAB-certified video ad technology vendors listed in the IAB Europe Global Vendor List (GVL). These providers may use cookies, pixels, and device identifiers to:
- Measure video ad viewability and completion rates
- Serve relevant video ads based on interests or contextual signals
- Limit the frequency of video ads shown to you
- Report aggregate performance data to advertisers
For EEA / UK / Switzerland users: Video advertising cookies are only activated after you provide explicit consent via our CMP, in accordance with IAB TCF v2.3 (Purposes 2, 7 and Special Purpose 2).
9. Native Advertising and Content Recommendations
This website may display native advertising widgets and content recommendation units powered by third-party networks. These units are labelled “Sponsored” or “Recommended”. Native ad providers may use cookies to serve relevant sponsored content based on your browsing behaviour.
Native advertising providers may include: Taboola, Outbrain, Revcontent, or similar platforms. Each operates under its own privacy policy.
11. Third-Party Links and Content
kognet.de may contain links to third-party websites and external content for additional information or convenience. These links do not constitute an endorsement. We have no control over the content, privacy practices, or availability of those sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any external site before providing personal information. Your use of third-party sites is entirely at your own risk.
12. Third-Party Services and Data Processors
| Service | Purpose | Operator | Privacy Policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Analytics | Traffic analysis | Google Ireland Ltd (EU) / Google LLC (US) | policies.google.com/privacy |
| Google AdSense | Display advertising | Google Ireland Ltd (EU) / Google LLC (US) | policies.google.com/privacy |
| Google AFS / RSOC | Search advertising | Google LLC, US | policies.google.com/privacy |
| Google IMA SDK | Video advertising | Google LLC, US | policies.google.com/privacy |
| CloudFront / CDN | Content delivery | Amazon Web Services EMEA SARL, Luxembourg | aws.amazon.com/privacy |
| WordPress / CMS | Site platform | Automattic Inc., US | automattic.com/privacy |
Data transferred to the United States is governed by Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or the EU–US Data Privacy Framework (GDPR Article 46).
13. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organisational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, misuse, or disclosure. These measures include encrypted data transmission (HTTPS), access controls, and secure hosting infrastructure.
However, no online data transmission is completely secure and we cannot guarantee absolute security. You transmit data at your own risk.
14. EU / EEA / UK / Switzerland — Your Data Rights (GDPR)
If you are located in the EEA, UK, or Switzerland, you have the following rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and applicable national law:
Art. 15 — Right of Access
Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
Art. 16 — Right to Rectification
Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
Art. 17 — Right to Erasure
Request deletion of your personal data (“Right to be Forgotten”) where there is no legitimate reason to continue processing.
Art. 18 — Right to Restriction
Request that we pause processing under certain circumstances.
Art. 20 — Right to Data Portability
Receive your data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format.
Art. 21 — Right to Object
Object to processing based on legitimate interests, including profiling.
Art. 77 — Right to Lodge a Complaint:
EU Data Protection Authorities: edpb.europa.eu
UK Information Commissioner’s Office: ico.org.uk
Legal Basis for Data Processing
| Processing Activity | Legal Basis |
|---|---|
| Analytics cookies | Consent — Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR |
| AdSense display ad cookies | Consent — Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR |
| AFS / RSOC search ad cookies | Consent — Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR |
| Video ad cookies | Consent — Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR |
| Native ad cookies | Consent — Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR |
| Security / fraud prevention | Legitimate Interest — Art. 6(1)(f) [IAB TCF SP1] |
| Email contact responses | Legitimate Interest — Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR |
| Site hosting / log files | Legitimate Interest — Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR |
| CDN content delivery | Legitimate Interest — Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR |
Independent Data Controller for EU/UK (Google)
Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland, acts as an independent data controller for data processed through its advertising services.
To exercise any of your rights, contact us at [email protected]. We respond within 30 days (extendable by 60 days for complex requests, with notice to you).
IAB TCF v2.3 Publisher Attestation
CMP defaults: all non-essential Purposes are OFF. Users make granular choices per Vendor and Purpose. Users may resurface the CMP at any time via “Privacy Settings” in the site footer. Consent is saved and transmitted to Vendors via TCF signals (Special Purpose 3).
15. US State Privacy Rights (CCPA / CPRA)
If you are a California resident, you have the following rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA):
- Right to Know: Request the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you.
- Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
- Right to Opt-Out of Sale / Sharing: We do not sell personal information. However, sharing with advertising partners for cross-context behavioural advertising may constitute “sharing” under CPRA. Opt out via: adssettings.google.com
- Right to Correct: Request correction of inaccurate personal information.
- Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of these rights.
To submit a CCPA/CPRA request: [email protected]
Other US States: Residents of Virginia (VCDPA), Colorado (CPA), Connecticut (CTDPA), Texas (TDPSA), and other states with applicable privacy legislation may have similar rights. Contact us at the address above to exercise them.
16. Children’s Privacy
This website is not directed at children under the age of 13 in the United States, or under 16 in the EEA (GDPR Article 8). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. For EEA/UK/Switzerland users: personalised advertising is not served to users identified as under 18, per Google’s child privacy policies, the EU Age Appropriate Design Code (AADC), and applicable child privacy regulations.
Publishers may include the TFUA parameter in AdSense tags to request restricted data processing for underage users, disabling personalised ads and third-party ad vendor requests.
If you believe a child has provided personal data to this site, please contact us at [email protected] immediately and we will delete it promptly.
17. Data Retention
| Data Type | Retention Period |
|---|---|
| Server log files | 7 days |
| Google Analytics data | 14 months (configurable in GA account settings) |
| Advertising / CMP cookies | Per Vendor declaration in CMP (IAB TCF Policy 14(2bis)) |
| Email contact records | Up to 12 months from resolution of enquiry |
You may request deletion of your personal data at any time: [email protected]
18. International Data Transfers
Your data may be processed in countries outside your country of residence, including the United States, where Google LLC operates its core advertising services (Analytics, AdSense, AFS/RSOC, IMA SDK) and where our hosting or CDN provider may have infrastructure.
For EEA / UK users: transfers to the United States and other third countries are governed by Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) under GDPR Article 46 and/or the EU–US Data Privacy Framework, as applicable to each processor.
19. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When changes are made, we will post the revised Policy on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date. We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed. Your continued use of kognet.de after any update constitutes your acceptance of the revised Policy.
20. Contact Us
If you have any questions, requests, or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:
This Privacy Policy is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a qualified legal professional for advice specific to your jurisdiction and business circumstances.