Do I Need A ‘Cookie Policy?’

If you’ve spent any time at all browsing the web in recent years, you’ll have seen the words ‘cookie policy’ plenty of times. But what is a cookie policy, and do you need one for your website?

The answer to the second part of that question is very much ‘yes’. The vast majority of websites use cookies, and if yours does too then you’ll need to have a cookie policy on your site. 

Most websites present their cookie policy to first-time users with either a pop-up or a banner at the top or bottom of the screen; either works, but it has to be clear and easy to understand.

What are cookies?

Cookies are used to collect and store small chunks of data relating to your activity on a given website. For example, if you add items to your basket and leave the site, cookies will ensure that your basket is still full when you return. 

Used correctly, they make browsing more convenient and save users time and effort. 

A cookie policy is there to tell users which data is being collected and what it’s being used for. Your cookie banner or pop-up also has to allow users to opt out of cookies if they wish. 

Why are cookie policies required?

The European Union introduced the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018, which made cookie policies a requirement for website owners. 

This means that, if your website uses cookies and could be visited by people in the European Union or UK, you’ll need to have a cookie policy.