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Website Cookies: Me want cookies!

Website Cookies: So we've just about got everyone up to date with ICO's GDPR guidance... and along comes an update on their cookie guidance.  (I'll admit - I grimaced!).

https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/news-and-events/news-and-blogs/2019/07/blog-cookies-what-does-good-look-like/

Not least because we had to make some changes to our own cookie notices!

Effectively the new cookie rules are:

  • People visiting your website have to get notification before they enter that they are being tracked (i.e. a pop up)
  • They must have the option to refuse the cookies and continue using the site (no more "accept cookies" notice)
  • They have to specifically opt in to be tracked - so you can't just have a slider selecting YES automatically or a preticked box...they need to actively opt in
  • You have to tell people which cookies are being used and what their purpose is
website cookies
  • What does the new cookie notice mean for my business?

Effectively, it's going to mean a massive drop in data you gather from website visitors.  It may also mean that if you (or - more likely - your clients) rely on visitor numbers or advertising revenue, you may see a significant reduction in income.

What do I need to do to comply?

  1. First, find out what cookies you are using: https://www.cookiebot.com/en/gdpr-cookies/ - this should tell you what cookies are on your website. Most VA websites will have WordPress cookies and Google Analytics installed as a minimum - but you may have others lurking.
  2. Check your current cookie popup/notification for updates which would make it compliant. A lot of them are working right now on solutions so it may be as simple as updating your plugin.
  3. Check your current cookie policy - if you bought a policy from a pack/legal adviser, check with them for updates.
  4. Clear all cookies and test if the pop ups work properly for both NO and YES visitors.
See also  Lego business...

Further reading:

 

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