You might have heard the word cookies before – especially if you know something about tech and computers. Cookies is a word that is connected to data privacy and is something that every single website must be aware of.
It you are the user on the other site of the screen you have probably visited a lot of websites that requires you to either accept or decline collection of cookies on the website. In other words, the website seeks your consent of collecting your digital behavior and trails.
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What are cookies and why does websites collect my data?
For those, who doesn’t know what the definition of cookies are, we will briefly go through the main characteristics.
Cookies are small text files that is generated when visiting and integrating with a website. You can define them as trials of your online behavior and search history.
There are many reasons why websites are collecting your cookies. Actually, one of them is to make the life easier for the visitor. Many people don’t think about it, but it is because of cookies that you don’t have to remember every single username, that you are choosing.
Also, we can thank cookies that the items that we have selected to our shopping carts on web shops doesn’t disappear when we leave end enter different pages.
What is cookie consent?
Cookie consent is defined as the interaction between you and the content management platform that you are visiting, where you wither accept or decline the collection of cookies and your personal data.
There are different legislations dependent on the specific nation or region you live in. For instance, the European GDPR is not the same as the Brazilian LGPD or the South African POPIA.
Cookie consent must take place from the very moment that any visitor enters the website. On websites this happens through a pop-up box, where the site is informing about their cookie policy and asks the visitor if they will allow the collection of their data. If not, the visitor will often be declined access to the website.
Why is cookie consent necessary?
The short answer to why cookie consent is necessary is to protect the visitors and give them the full control over their own data.
As mentioned earlier, cookies can be used to make the life easier for the visitors on websites. However, there are also some potential downsides of cookies. It can be a challenge to bridge the gap between data privacy and data-driven business.
Data has become very valuable for many businesses as they can use it to target ads directly to their audience on websites and social media. Therefore, it is crucial to put the control of peoples own data in their own hands to make sure, that they are aware of the potential downsides of data collection.
