The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a comprehensive privacy regulation in the European Union (EU) that came into effect on May 25, 2018. The GDPR has significant implications for the use of cookies, including the requirement for organizations to categorize their cookies.

What are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are stored on a user’s device when they visit a website. Cookies are used to store information about the user’s activity on the website, such as login information, preferences, and shopping carts.

GDPR and Cookies

Under the GDPR, cookies are considered personal data because they can be used to track an individual’s online activity. As a result, websites are required to obtain informed consent from users before setting cookies on their devices. This means that websites must provide clear and concise information about the cookies they use, and allow users to choose whether they accept or reject cookies.

Cookie Categories

To assist users in understanding the cookies used on a website and to make informed decisions about whether to accept or reject cookies, the GDPR requires organizations to categorize their cookies. The GDPR does not prescribe specific categories for cookies, but it does require that the categories be easily understood by users and reflect the purpose of the cookies.

Common categories for cookies include functional cookies, which are necessary for the website to operate properly, and performance cookies, which collect information about how users interact with the website. Other categories include advertising cookies, which are used to deliver targeted advertisements, and social media cookies, which allow users to share content from the website on social media platforms.

Conclusion

The GDPR requires organizations to categorize their cookies to assist users in understanding the cookies used on a website and to make informed decisions about whether to accept or reject cookies. While the GDPR does not prescribe specific categories for cookies, it does require that the categories be easily understood by users and reflect the purpose of the cookies.