COOKIES POLICY

 

What are Cookies

Cookies are small text files that websites place on the computers and mobile devices of people who visit those websites. These text files allow a website to remember your device and how you interacted with the website, which is useful for a number of different purposes.

 

For example, cookies can be used to remember username and password information so that you don’t have to re-enter all of your login information every time you visit a site you frequently log in to. Other functions of cookies are to provide custom advertising to users based on searches and personal interests, as well as site performance cookies that enhance website use by remembering things such as custom video streaming or volume settings you have selected while using the website in the past. If you use cookies, you should consider having a Cookies Policy. In fact, you may be legally required to have one.

 

What’s a Cookies Policy

A Cookies Policy is a policy that provides users with detailed information about the types of cookies a website uses, how these cookies are used, and how users can control cookies placement through limiting or forbidding a website to place cookies on his/her electronic device. A Privacy Policy will often include a section within it that covers Cookies. However, in the EU, having a fully separate Cookies Policy is required. In this case, any information about cookies can also be placed in the Privacy Policy but then referenced in the separate Cookies Policy.

 

Legal Requirements for Cookies Policies

Requirements in the EU Any EU business that uses cookies must comply with the EU Cookies Law, which requires a Cookie Policy to be in place. Visitors to your website must be alerted that cookies are in use, what kind of cookies are in use, and given the option to opt out of having these cookies placed on their devices.

 

A Cookie Policy is where this information can be thoroughly detailed and explained to your visitors.

 

While pop-up boxes and banner notifications alert users that cookies are being used and can allow for an option to opt out within that box or banner, this kind of policy is where further information can be detailed and accessible to your visitors at any time.

 

The EU’s GDPR requires that you get consent to use most cookies, and having a cookie notification is the perfect way to do this.

 

Requirements in the U.S.

U.S.-based companies that do business targeted to EU nations must comply with EU cookies laws. However, most U.S.-based, U.S.-targeted businesses do not need to comply.

 

In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces privacy and data security laws and regulations, but cookies are not explicitly separated from general privacy laws as they are in the EU.

 

It is common with U.S.-based businesses to see just one general Privacy Policy that contains a section within it that deals with the use of cookies.

 

This differs from EU-based businesses/websites that have both a Privacy Policy and a separate Cookies Policy.