Do I Need a Cookie Policy for my Website?

A cookie policy is what governs websites that use cookies. Cookies are used to store information about the user on their device, and they can be accessed by the website that created them. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires all websites to have a valid cookie policy in place. This blog post will cover if you need one, what happens if you don't have one, and how to create your own GDPR compliant version of it!

So do I Need a Cookie Policy?

Yes, you will need a cookie policy for your website. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has been in effect since May 25th, 2018 and it includes the requirement for websites to have a valid cookie policy on their site. In other words, if you do not have one, you could be heavily fined!

What if I don't have a Cookie Policy?

Not having a new cookie policy is not an option as it could lead to you being heavily fined. In fact, if your website does not have one and someone reports you for this reason, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) will advise that they take action against you which may include a fine or prosecution!

You must inform consumers about which cookies are on your website, how they collect data, and how that data is used before employing them. You must also provide users the option to consent or opt out of cookies before using them.

How much can I be Fined if I don't have a Cookie Policy?

Companies could be fined up to 4% of their annual turnover if they are not compliant with existing GDPR practises.

Not all GDPR breaches result in financial penalty.

Supervisory authorities such as the UK's ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) may take a variety of other measures, including:

• Issuing warnings and reprimands

• Imposing a temporary or permanent prohibition on data processing

• Ordering the correction, restriction, or erasure of data

• And Suspending data transfers to third countries are just a few examples

• How do I create my own GDPR compliant version of it?

To create your own GDPR compliant version of a cookie policy, you first need to know what kind of cookies are on your website. If there is no valid reason for them being there (which they should NEVER be!), then it's best if you remove them completely - this includes third party cookies as well!

Once you have done that, make sure the privacy notice has been updated and informs users about which cookies are used on the site, how data is collected from these cookies, and how that data will be used by those specific companies. Lastly, give people the option to consent or opt out of using each one before continuing with their visit!

What are the Benefits of Having a Cookie Policy?

Having one of these policies on your website is beneficial for multiple reasons. First, it lets users know exactly how their data will be used and who has access to this information - meaning there won't be any surprise when they see what you're doing with it!

Second, if someone requests that you delete all their personal details from your database, you can do so easily because each request must comply or else risk being heavily fined. Finally, by creating an easy-to-understand policy like this, people are more likely to trust your business which makes them much more likely to buy things through your site!

How do I check my Cookies on my Website?

There are many ways to do this but one of the best ways to check a website's existing trackers is to use a Google Chrome extension 'Google Tag Assistant Legacy' that will show you all of the third party trackers on a page.

This is great for checking if you have any trackers that are no longer necessary to be there!

How do I make a Complaint about a Website's Cookie Policy?

If you notice that a website is not complying with the law and has no valid cookie policy, then it's best to report them as soon as possible! The ICO will investigate your complaint thoroughly through looking at their privacy policies, terms of use pages etc.

If they are found guilty of breaking this regulation, there could be heavy fines given out which can go up to 20 million Euros or four percent of the company's annual turnover (whichever number is greater).

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This blog post covered what happens when websites do not comply with GDPR regulations around cookies and how important it is to create one for your site. Not having one could lead to heavy fines! Make sure that you understand the requirements of GDPR before continuing online.

Conclusion

A cookie policy is a document that sets out the rules about cookies on your website. It should tell visitors what types of information are collected, who this data can be shared with and how long it will be stored for.

The presence or absence of a valid cookie policy might affect whether you comply with GDPR regulations (if implemented in your country). You may also find that having one improves performance as visitor numbers increase because they’ll have some reassurance about their privacy when browsing around your site.

In any case, it won't take much time to generate one so contact us today if you're looking for help on generating a cookie policy!

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