Unwrapping the Internet Cookie: A Comprehensive Guide
Stepping into the realm of the internet, you're likely to come across the term "cookie" more than once. But what are cookies? How do they work? And what's all the fuss about consent? Let's delve in.
The Building Blocks: First-Party and Third-Party Cookies
Cookies can either be first-party or third-party, depending on who places them.
First-Party Cookies: These are set by the website a user visits directly. For instance, if you're browsing on example.com, the website would place a cookie on your device.
Third-Party Cookies: These are set by a domain other than the website a user is visiting. Often, these come from social media plugins, images, or advertisements hosted on the visited site but belong to a different domain.
A Peek Inside: Session Cookies vs Persistent Cookies
Just as there are different types of cookies based on their origin, they also differ in terms of their longevity and function.
Session Cookies: These are temporary cookies that expire when you close your browser or end your session. For example, if you're shopping online, session cookies remember what you've put in your basket. These cookies vanish once the browsing session ends, and are generally considered less intrusive to privacy.
Persistent Cookies: These stick around even after you've closed your browser, allowing websites to remember your preferences for future visits. They can last for a long time, unless a user decides to clear their cookies. Persistent cookies often work across different sites and help remember user preferences even after they leave a site.
When Cookie Use Changes: Keeping Users in the Loop
If you change how you use cookies or introduce new ones on your site, it's essential to obtain consent from your users again. This also applies if you alter the purpose of the cookies you've already set. Users who've given consent previously need to be informed about these changes so they can make an informed choice.
Who's Behind the Cookies? Cookie Providers
A cookie provider can be a company or tool that sets cookies on your website to collect data about activities related to that company. This could include companies like Google Analytics, HubSpot, Mailchimp, or WordPress. You're responsible for any cookies set on your website, and it's your duty to inform your website visitors about your cookie providers.
Blocking Cookies: Why and How?
Blocking cookies, especially non-necessary ones, before a website visitor gives consent is crucial for compliance. To block a cookie, you need to prevent the scripts that set cookies on your website from running until consent is given.
Why is a Cookie Policy Important?
A cookie policy is a requirement for compliance. It's your channel of communication with your website visitors, explaining how you use cookies, for what purpose, what types of cookies you use, and when they expire.
The Ethics of Data and Cookies
Data ethics, a rising concern, influences how companies treat visitor data. A company's handling of cookies reflects its overall data handling approach. Prioritizing privacy could offer a competitive edge, as observed by Data Ethics experts Pernille Tranberg and Gry Hasselbalch.
Staying Cookie Compliant
Compliance requires knowing which cookies you're using and why, having a visible cookie banner, distinguishing between necessary and non-necessary cookies, and obtaining user consent for non-necessary ones. You should provide accessible and understandable cookie information, an easily found cookie policy, and maintain an audit trail for cookie consents.
Cookie Policy: The Must-Haves
Your cookie policy must be easily accessible and comprehensive. It should cover the following points:
- What cookies are and how you use them.
- Different types of cookies on your site and their purposes.
- How users can control their cookie settings and opt-out of being tracked, if possible.
Remember, your policy should be written in simple, understandable language and be well-structured. Ideally, it should be split into sections so that it's easier for users to read and understand.
In conclusion, cookies are a critical component of the web browsing experience. Understanding their different types, purposes, and the importance of user consent can help you navigate the internet more confidently and responsibly.
