Cookie Law Basics: What Your Website Needs in the UK, EU and US
If your cookie banner went up at launch and hasn't been checked since, it may not follow the rules it was meant to. This post gives you the basics in one place, so you know what applies to your site and what to fix. Quick answer: Cookie law is a group of regional rules about cookies and similar trackers. In the EU and UK, you need a clear yes before non-essential cookies run. In much of the US, you must let people opt out. Everywhere, you need to say what you use and why. What counts as a cookie? A cookie is a small text file a website stores on a device, holding things like login details, language settings or browsing behaviour. The rules also cover tracking pixels, local storage and device fingerprinting scripts. If it identifies a visitor or tracks what they do, treat it like a cookie. The four types of cookies Type Examples Consent needed? Strictly necessary Shopping basket, secure login, forms No, but list them in your policy Preferences Language, regio...