Compliance with cookie regulations affects multiple disciplines in an organisation. Marketers, web administrators and lawyers all have their own perspective on how to properly manage the use of cookies and trackers. However, ultimately, the regulations are unavoidable.
It’s been over a year since the French data protection regulator, the CNIL, sanctioned Google LLC, Google Ireland Limited and Facebook Ireland Limited for non-compliance with French cookie legislation. The fines (€150m imposed on Google and €60m imposed on Facebook) made headlines and certainly reflected the major status of both tech companies, but also served as a serious wake-up call to the importance of cookie compliance. From SMEs to large organisations and global corporations, businesses must understand the complexities of cookie compliance and adhere to regulations regardless of size or presence.
To comply with privacy regulations such as The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), ePrivacy Regulation and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) and more, website owners must give their website visitors proper notice of how they are being tracked and provide choice and control of their preferences. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at what a cookie consent manager is, how it works, and why your business needs one.
A cookie consent manager is a type of software or tool to help website owners and operators gain consent from website visitors for the use of cookies, adhering to privacy laws and regulations set out by governments and other regulatory bodies. This software helps companies be more transparent in their data collection practices, informing users of the types of cookies used and the information collected. It also allows users to accept or reject the use of these cookies.
The primary role of a cookie consent manager is to provide a precise mechanism for users to give their explicit consent. This typically takes the form of a pop-up box or banner allowing users to opt in or out of data collection or processing. The pop-up may also include additional information about how the user’s data will be used, such as the different types of cookies and how long they will remain on the user’s device. By allowing users to provide explicit consent through these pop-ups, website owners can ensure that their data collection and processing practices comply with relevant privacy laws.
Once the user has given their explicit consent, cookie consent managers also enable website owners to manage their use of cookies and other tracking technologies in compliance with GDPR and other legal requirements. This includes setting time limits for when certain cookies will expire, ensuring that only necessary cookies are being used, and deleting any unnecessary tracking data from the user’s browser after a certain period has elapsed. By managing their use of cookies in this way, website owners can ensure that they are collecting data responsibly and respecting users’ privacy rights.
Many advanced cookie consent managers also provide analytics tools to show precisely how visitors interact with your site, detailed reports on all tracking activity taking place on your site, and automated content blocking capabilities – preventing unauthorised access to user data by third parties. Using these extra features alongside regular GDPR compliance measures, website owners can create an even more secure environment for their visitors while meeting legal requirements for personal data protection.
When it comes to using a cookie consent manager, there are many advantages. Cookie consent managers provide a way for businesses and websites to ensure visitors understand and agree to the terms of their usage before accessing content or providing data. In turn, you can build more trust with your customers, helping to protect their privacy.
There are many off-the-shelf consent mechanisms available today, however, it’s essential to provide a tailored and transparent consent solution to ensure complete peace of mind. With OneTrust Cookie Consent, the Data Privacy Group can help you continually scan and maintain an evergreen inventory of tracking technologies and up-to-date policies across your web properties. At the same time, you can apply the latest changes to international laws and frameworks to your consent banners across all your websites and apps.
It’s essential for organisations to have a comprehensive understanding of the laws and regulations governing the use of cookies, such as those related to GDPR compliance and privacy, however, you also need to consider the impact of global laws and the performance of your website. By requesting a professional audit of your data privacy policies and consent forms, you can begin to detect all first- and third-party cookies, tags, trackers, pixels and beacons in place on your existing websites and apps before deciding which type of cookie consent manager is best for your needs.
The importance of protecting customers’ privacy through the use of a cookie consent manager cannot be overstated, especially if you want total peace of mind that you’re operating within legal parameters when collecting visitor data. Additionally, this technology makes it easier for customers to understand how their data is being used and make informed decisions about what type of information they feel comfortable sharing.
This gives customers peace of mind knowing that their privacy is respected and their data is secure. It’s important to remember that different countries have their own rules around collecting these small files, which relay information about website visitors and each device they use. Therefore, by implementing a cookie consent manager, businesses can avoid hefty fines associated with non-compliance that could have an adverse impact on your brand and its reputation.
If you’d like to learn more about cookies, current laws and our tailored and transparent solutions, please contact our friendly team today. We create and control privacy and compliance programs for companies of all sizes, so we can help you overcome complex challenges and keep up to speed with changing regulations.
