Cookie Policy
In today’s technological era, when the Internet and Artificial Intelligence have been dominating globally, transparency for users has become a highly imperative factor to consider. But how do the established brands on the internet make it safe for users to browse freely? This is where the concept of cookie policy kicks in. What is it? Read ahead to know more!
Cookie PolicyExplained:
Before understanding what cookie policy is, it is necessary to understand cookies. Cookies stand for the small files that are sent to a user's device by any website. These cookies allow the website to track and analyse the user's behaviour online and further aid in processing their personal data. Cookie policy is the most helpful tool for regulating how websites handle personal data and maintain transparency.
The cookie policy document proficiently explains to users how a website utilises cookies to process their data. Enforcement of this policy is not made mandatory by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). However, the policy is made to be one of the principles that underline the protection regulations globally.
This transparency principle requires the websites to communicate information related to data processing. Besides informing users about cookies, this policy also works as an alert system for users whenever any online business uses website tracking technology. As a result, one can find cookie regulations frequently using tags, pixels, and other internet trackers.
A common misconception floating among the users is that cookie policy is always a part of the privacy policy. However, this is not true. It can be a part of the privacy policy, but it is not necessarily so every time. Building a separate document for cookie policy is recommended as it becomes more convenient for the users to be informed about the cookies.
Now, what differentiates a cookie policy from a privacy policy? Tune in to the next section to know in detail!
Cookie policy vs. privacy policy
Both policies are used as tools for maintaining transparency for every business operation. They both work to inform the users about any website's relation with their personal information. However, these two stand to be different.
Privacy policy informs the users regarding privacy practices adopted by the business. It describes everything holistically, from processing purposes and data collection to data subject rights and security procedures. This document offers the user detailed information to allow them to make sound and informed decisions before sharing data.
On the other hand, cookie policy revolves around informing the user about the tracking technology that the user can employ. Its purpose is to tell the user about the privacy-invading practices of data collection to the users. It won't talk about the data freely offered by the user. Instead, it will speak of the data collected by any website from the user.
Elements of Cookie Policy
A transparent and correct cookie policy will always give users in-depth information about its website's tracking system. In order to do this, the procedure must include a detailed explanation of the different elements of the cookies being used. This means a website should-
- Determine the cookies based on various criteria, such as first party vs. third party, session vs. persistent, and so on.
- List all the cookies that are used in the policy
- Explain the processes related to data privacy
Why is it necessary to explain the types of cookies?
The policy's primary purpose is to portray the necessity and need of using each cookie and further explain it to the user. Unlike the privacy policy, the cookie policy solely explains the reasons behind processing data by using cookies.
WebLex’s Stance:
Developing the perfect cookie policy for any online business is one of the crucial steps, as it is the source of building trust with the user. A cookie policy explains the purpose and how cookies extract users' information for data processing and analysis. One must note that the cookie policy does not need to be included in the privacy policy and can be shown separately.
So, next time you surf your favourite website, read their cookie policy thoroughly before accepting!
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