Cookie Policy

1. What Are Cookies and Legal Framework

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work more efficiently and provide information to the website owners.

Cookies allow a website to recognize your device and store some information about your preferences or past actions. This helps us provide you with a better experience when you browse our platform and allows certain features to function properly.

Legal Compliance: Our use of cookies complies with the EU ePrivacy Directive (2002/58/EC as amended by Directive 2009/136/EC), the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU Regulation 2016/679), and the Finnish Information Society Code (Laki tietoyhteiskunnan palveluista 917/2014). We obtain your consent before placing non-essential cookies on your device, as required by these regulations.

2. How We Use Cookies

CivicWork uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to:

• Essential Functionality: Enable core features such as user authentication, session management, and security
• User Preferences: Remember your language preferences, display settings, and other customization choices
• Analytics: Understand how visitors interact with our platform to improve user experience
• Performance: Monitor and improve website performance and loading times
• Security: Protect against fraudulent activity and ensure platform security

3. Types of Cookies We Use

3.1 Essential Cookies (Strictly Necessary)

These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly and are exempt from consent requirements under the ePrivacy Directive. They enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. You cannot opt-out of these cookies as they are essential for the service to work.

Legal Basis: These cookies are processed under GDPR Article 6(1)(f) (legitimate interests) as they are necessary for the performance of the service.

3.2 Functional Cookies

These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make (such as your username, language, or region) and provide enhanced, more personalized features. They may also be used to provide services you have requested.

Legal Basis: These cookies require your consent under the ePrivacy Directive. They are processed under GDPR Article 6(1)(a) (consent) or Article 6(1)(f) (legitimate interests) depending on their purpose.

3.3 Analytics Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our website by collecting and reporting information. This helps us improve the way our website works. We use anonymized analytics where possible to protect your privacy.

Legal Basis: These cookies require your explicit consent under the ePrivacy Directive and GDPR Article 6(1)(a). You can withdraw your consent at any time.

3.4 Performance Cookies

These cookies collect information about how you use our website, such as which pages you visit most often. This data helps us optimize our website's performance and improve user experience.

4. Cookie Duration

4.1 Session Cookies

Session cookies are temporary cookies that are deleted when you close your browser. They are used to maintain your session while you navigate through the website.

4.2 Persistent Cookies

Persistent cookies remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them. They are used to remember your preferences and settings for future visits.

5. Third-Party Cookies

In addition to our own cookies, we may also use various third-party cookies to report usage statistics of the Service, deliver advertisements, and so on. These third-party cookies may include:

• Analytics Services: To help us understand how users interact with our platform
• Map Services: For geolocation and mapping functionality (e.g., Leaflet, OpenStreetMap)
• Content Delivery Networks: To improve website performance and loading speeds

These third-party cookies are subject to the respective third parties' privacy policies. We do not control the setting of these cookies, so please check the third-party websites for more information about their cookies and how to manage them.

6. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

You have the right to accept or reject cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser settings to decline cookies if you prefer. However, this may prevent you from taking full advantage of the website.

6.1 Browser Settings

You can control and/or delete cookies as you wish. You can delete all cookies that are already on your computer and you can set most browsers to prevent them from being placed. Here are links to instructions for popular browsers:

• Google Chrome
• Mozilla Firefox
• Safari
• Microsoft Edge

6.2 Cookie Consent (GDPR and ePrivacy Compliance)

In compliance with the ePrivacy Directive and GDPR, we obtain your explicit consent before placing non-essential cookies on your device. When you first visit our website, you will see a cookie consent banner that allows you to:

• Accept all cookies
• Reject non-essential cookies
• Customize your cookie preferences

Your Rights: You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. You can change your cookie preferences at any time through your browser settings, by clearing your browser cookies, or by contacting us. Withdrawing consent does not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.

Consent Storage: Your consent choice is stored locally in your browser to remember your preferences for future visits, in compliance with GDPR requirements for consent management.

7. Impact of Disabling Cookies

If you choose to disable cookies, some features of our platform may not function properly. This may include:

• Inability to log in or maintain your session
• Loss of saved preferences and settings
• Reduced functionality of interactive features
• Inability to use certain location-based features

Essential cookies are necessary for the basic functionality of the platform and cannot be disabled without affecting your ability to use the Service.

8. Updates to This Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Cookie Policy on this page and updating the "Last updated" date. Please review this Cookie Policy periodically for any changes.

9. Contact Us and Supervisory Authority

If you have any questions about our use of cookies, this Cookie Policy, or wish to exercise your rights regarding cookie consent, please contact us:

Finnish Data Protection Ombudsman: If you have concerns about our cookie practices, you may lodge a complaint with the Finnish supervisory authority: