Data protection

Privacy policy for herz-des-nordwestens.de (as at: November 2025)

Thank you for your interest in the Osnabrücker Land economic region and its website at the URL www.herz-des-nordwestens.de (hereinafter referred to as the "website"). Below we inform you in detail about the handling of your data that we collect in connection with the operation of our website.

1. responsible party

The controller within the meaning of data protection law is WIGOS Wirtschaftsförderungsgesellschaft Osnabrücker Land mbH (hereinafter referred to as "WIGOS" or "we"), Am Schölerberg 1, 49082 Osnabrück, e-mail address info@wigos.de.

2. contact to the data protection officer

Our Data Protection Officer can be contacted by email as follows:
Landkreis Osnabrück
Data Protection Officer
Am Schölerberg 1
49082 Osnabrück
Email: datenschutz@landkreis-osnabrueck.de

3. accessing the website

You can visit our website without providing any personal data. We temporarily store your access data, which is summarised in a log file on our web servers. The access data includes the following information:
- IP address of the requesting device,
- date and time of access,
- name and URL of the retrieved file,
- amount of data transferred,
- notification of whether the retrieval was successful,
- identification data of the browser and operating system used,
- website from which the access is made and
- name of your Internet access provider.
The aforementioned data is technically necessary to enable your device to access our website and use its functions. The data is collected for pre-contractual purposes or in our legitimate interest in displaying the content of the website to you.

4. use of cookies to ensure user-friendliness

We use cookies on our website to make your visit more attractive and to enable the use of certain functions. Cookies are small text files that are sent from our web server to your browser and stored on your end device. Cookies are only set if you have consented to this via the entry banner on our website and your browser settings allow cookies to be set. The legal basis is therefore Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 a) GDPR.

The cookies contain the following data records:

Name: _ga
Description: Anonymous ID for analysing page views in Google Analytics
Storage period: 2 years Provider: Google Ireland Limited

Name: _gat
Description: Cookie for Google Analytics to throttle the request requests
Storage duration: 10 minutes Provider: Google Ireland Limited

Name: _gid
Description: Cookie from Google Analytics to distinguish between individual users
Storage duration: Deletion when the browser is closed Provider: Google Ireland Limited

Name: CONSENT
Description: Cookie is set as soon as consent is given to view the YouTube video
Storage period: 2 years Provider: Google Ireland Limited

Name: PREF
Description: Saves settings on YouTube, such as the language, for 10 years Provider: Google Ireland Limited

4.1 Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google Ireland Ltd, Ireland ("Google"). Google Analytics uses the aforementioned cookies, which are stored on your end device and enable your use of our website to be analysed.
Google Analytics registers data that can be divided into different categories. These are:
- Type of visitor: Here the tool collects data on the regional origin and the operating systems and end devices used to access the website.
- The origin of the traffic: In this segment, Google stores referring websites and provides information on which social networks visitors come from. If an AdWords account is linked to the Analytics account, data from the advertising programme can also be imported.
- The behaviour of visitors on the website: In this category, Google records landing pages, click paths, bounce rates and the time spent on individual subpages.
Google will use this data on our behalf to analyse your use of the website, to compile reports on website activity and to provide us with other services relating to website activity and internet usage.
Google does not exclude the possibility in its privacy policy that the data may also be transferred to its parent company in the USA. The parent company Google LLC, USA is certified in accordance with the EU-US Data Privacy Framework, see https://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/list. The reason for this is, in particular, that the data subject has no legal remedies for the protection of their data comparable to those in the EU. In addition, Google now uses the EU standard contractual clauses and additional security measures to protect data. The IP addresses are also only processed in abbreviated form in order to prevent them from being linked to individuals. The IP address transmitted by your browser as part of Google Analytics is not merged with other Google data. We have also concluded the order processing contract specified by Google with Google.
We can request advertising reports on visitors to our website via Google Analytics. These reports contain anonymised statistical information on the age, gender and interests of visitors to our website. Further information on this service can be found at
https://support.google.com/analytics/answer/3450482?hl=de_AT&utm_id=ad
Independently of this, Google collects data in particular from users of a Gmail account, as Google is also the operator here. You can change your advertising settings for this at https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated so that activities and information for personalised advertising are no longer collected.
You can prevent the storage of cookies by setting your browser accordingly. You can also prevent Google from collecting the data generated by the cookie and relating to your use of the website (including your IP address) and from processing this data by Google by downloading and installing the browser plug-in available at the following link:
https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de.
Alternatively, you can prevent Google from collecting and using your data by clicking on the following link:
Deactivate Google Analytics
Clicking this link sets an opt-out cookie that prevents your data from being collected by Google. You can find more information on terms of use and data protection at the following links:
https://marketingplatform.google.com/about/analytics/terms/de/
https://www.google.com/intl/de/analytics/learn/privacy.html
https://www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy

4.2 Additional Google service "Google Maps"

This website contains content from Google Maps to display geographical information. This service is also offered by Google. When using this service, Google collects user data, including the IP address. Therefore, the content will only be displayed to you if you expressly consent to its use and data transfer. If you are logged in to Google when you use the website, Google may link this data to your account. We would like to point out that, as the provider of the website, we have no influence on the collection and use of data by Google. The additional terms of use for Google Maps and Google Earth (https://www.google.com/intl/de_de/help/terms_maps/ ) apply. The data collection is based on your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR).

4.3 Linking to YouTube videos

On our website, we link to various videos on YouTube. The provider of the associated website at https://www.youtube.com is Google Ireland Limited, Ireland ("Google").
information is only collected by Google if you consent to this and watch the video. Once you have given your consent, the above-mentioned cookies will be set. If you have already consented to playback on another website, Google recognises this by the cookie that is set. If you click on the video, Google will receive information about the website from which you are accessing the YouTube videos. If you are logged into your YouTube account, Google can assign your surfing behaviour to you personally. You can prevent this by logging out of your YouTube account beforehand. Further information on data protection at "YouTube" can be found in the privacy policy for this service, available at: https: //www.google.de/intl/de/policies/privacy/. The data collection is based on your consent (Art. 6 para. 1 sentence 1 lit. a) GDPR).

4.4 Linking to Meta (Facebook)

On our website, we link to our website at Meta(https://www.facebook.com/WirtschaftsfoerderungsgesellschaftOsnabrueckerLand/). Meta Germany is operated by Meta Platforms Ireland Limited, Merrion Road, Dublin 4, D04 X2K5, Ireland. If you click on a link to Meta/Facebook, you will be redirected to the Meta website. Meta receives the information from which website you visit the Meta page. If you are logged into your Meta account, Meta can assign your surfing behaviour to you personally. You can prevent this by logging out of your Meta account beforehand and not allowing automatic login.
There is a joint responsibility of two parties: WIGOS is responsible for data processing on our Meta page. WIGOS is only solely responsible if it processes the data itself.
Meta is also responsible as the operator of the platform. You can contact Meta's data protection officer by using the Meta form on the website with the URL https://www.facebook.com/help/contact/540977946302970.
- Joint Controller Agreement
Meta has concluded a Controller Addendum with all page providers and also with us regarding the "Facebook Insights" service, which can be viewed here: https: //www.facebook.com/legal/terms/page_controller_addendum.
This so-called "Page Insights Controller Addendum" represents an extension of the terms of use, which Meta alone stipulates for the use of its services. We have no influence on the content of this agreement. You can see the individual responsibilities from the agreement. A description of the main rules can be found at the end of the document.
Please note that despite the joint responsibility, we are also only users of Meta's platform. Our options are largely determined by the rights that Meta grants the administrator of a Meta page.

Meta's privacy policy is available at: https://www.facebook.com/privacy/explanation
Our privacy policy for the Meta presence of WIGOS is available here: www.wigos.de/datenschutzerklaerung-facebook

4.5 LinkedIn

WIGOS also operates its own account to present the company on the social platform LinkedIn at the URL https://de.linkedin.com/company/wigos-wirtschaftsf%C3%B6rderungsgesellschaft-osnabr%C3%BCcker-land-mbh. We also link to this on the website.
This platform is operated within the European Economic Area by LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Wilton Place, Dublin 2, Ireland (hereinafter referred to as "LinkedIn").
LinkedIn is part of a large group whose parent company LinkedIn Corp. is based in the USA. LinkedIn USA has been certified under the EU-US Data Privacy Shield (seehttps://www.dataprivacyframework.gov/list). In accordance with the EU's adequacy decision, an adequate level of data protection can therefore be assumed.
If you are active on LinkedIn and use functions such as sharing, posting or liking posts, you do so on your own responsibility and on the basis of your own user relationship with LinkedIn. As things stand at present, there is no joint responsibility in this respect.
You can find information about how LinkedIn processes your data in LinkedIn's privacy policy at the URL https://www.linkedin.com/legal/privacy-policy and the cookie policy at the URL https://www.linkedin.com/legal/cookie-policy. We have no influence on this data processing. We have no influence on this data processing, nor can we control it. In particular, confidential messages are processed by LinkedIn and analysis tools are used from which LinkedIn can infer your preferences and interests and determine your location via your IP address and GPS data. This data can be used to send or display targeted advertising. Such data is not made available to us. You should therefore assert any data subject rights in this regard directly against LinkedIn.
We only receive personal data about you if you actively network with us or follow WIGOS. However, we will then only receive the information that you have chosen to make public to your contacts.

4.6 Instagram

WIGOS also has a channel on Instagram at the URL https://www.instagram.com/wigos_lk_osnabrueck/. We also link to this channel on the website. The provider of Instagram is Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd, 4 Grand Canal Square Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2 Ireland.
Details of the processing procedures can be found in Meta's terms of use and privacy policy for this service:
Privacy Policy: https://privacycenter.instagram.com/policy/?section_id=0-WhatIsThePrivacy
Terms of Use: https: //help.instagram.com/581066165581870/?helpref=uf_share

5. contact

Under the link "Contact" you will find information about our contact persons. You can contact them by e-mail or telephone and also download the contact person's online business card.
The data you provide when contacting us and in further correspondence, such as your telephone number, name and e-mail address, will be used to process your request.

6 Legal and contractual obligations to provide data

The provision of your data as described in this privacy policy is neither contractually nor legally required.

7 Disclosure of your data

We only pass on your data to third parties if we are authorised or obliged to do so under applicable law.
Authorisation exists if you give us your consent or if third parties process data on our behalf: If we do not carry out our business activities (e.g. operation of the website, creation and dispatch of advertising material, data analysis and, if necessary, data cleansing) ourselves, but have them carried out by other contractors, and these activities involve the processing of your data, we have previously contractually obliged these companies to use the data only for the purposes permitted to us by law. We are authorised to monitor these companies in this respect.
In individual cases, we may be legally obliged to pass on personal data to authorities or courts. The associated data processing is therefore based on a legal obligation.

8 Storage period and deletion of data

Data provided via a contact enquiry will be stored until we can assume that your request has been dealt with. If the data is required as evidence or otherwise for proceedings, it will be used for legal prosecution and defence and will be stored within the framework of the statutory limitation regulations or until the conclusion of the proceedings. According to §§ 195 ff BGB, the limitation period can be up to 30 years, whereby the regular limitation period ends after 3 years. Log files are deleted 7 days after collection. The storage period for cookies is specified in section 6.

9. your rights (objection, cancellation, information, correction, restriction of use, deletion, transfer, complaint)

9.1 Objection

You can object to the processing of your personal data by us at any time for reasons arising from your particular situation. To do so, you can use the contact options listed in sections 1 and 2. If you object, we will no longer process your personal data unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override your interests, rights and freedoms.

9.2 Revocation

You also have the right to revoke any consent you have given with effect for the future. However, the lawfulness of the data processing based on your consent remains unaffected until you exercise your right of revocation.

9.3 Other rights

You have the right to receive information about your personal data stored by us free of charge at any time, to correct incorrect data and to have data blocked or deleted. You also have the right to receive your data in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format and to have your data transferred by us to someone else. Finally, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection authority.
With the exception of your right to lodge a complaint with the data protection authority, you can address your respective concerns to us using the contact details provided in sections 1 and 2.

10 Data security

This website is SSL-encrypted to protect your data. WIGOS also takes appropriate technical and organisational measures within the meaning of Art. 32 GDPR, taking into account the state of the art, the implementation costs and the nature, scope, circumstances and purposes of the processing as well as the likelihood and severity of the risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons. Furthermore, the confidentiality, integrity, availability and resilience of the systems and services in connection with the processing as well as the rapid restoration of the availability of personal data in the event of a physical or technical incident are ensured.
Please note that while we endeavour to create a secure and reliable website for users, the absolute confidentiality of communications or materials transmitted to or from our website cannot be guaranteed.