Before knowing why you need a cookie notification on your website, you will need to understand what it is. A cookie is basically a text file which will be downloaded onto your device once you log onto a website. This includes 2 pieces of data: unique user id and site name. Once the cookie is on your device, that particular website will recognize you as a repeat visitor and will often tailor the entire visit as needed. A cookie notification tells you when the website is being put on your device ahead of time.
The Cookie Law
The “cookie law” is in place to protect consumer privacy while they are online. The GDRP, also known as the General Data Protection Regulation, replaces the original EU Data Protection Directive, from 1995. This new law which went into effect on May 25, 2018, regulates data protection law on all twenty eight EU countries. This will also enforce stringent new rules on processing and controlling personally identifiable data.
Who is affected by the GDPR?
The GDPR applies to not only businesses located in EU, but also many that are located outside of the EU as well. This is imperative for any company currently in business or those that plan to create a business in the future. So if they currently provide services or sell goods to anyone located in Europe, this directive will apply to them. It targets all businesses that process and hold personal information of data subjects that reside in the European Union, no matter the business location. All websites will require some type of cookie notification for their users.
This is designed to enable regular civilians to have control over how and where any personal data will be accessed, used, stored and eventually removed. The GDPR facilitates the rules and regulations for these companies across Europe by consolidating the different laws across the member countries.
Penalties for non-compliance
With compliance requirements and strict protection being implemented, all companies will definitely want to comply as soon as possible. The fines and penalties that will occur for those companies that choose not to comply with the directive will not only be severe, but puts them at risk for losing their license or ability to sell.
With the massive growth in information and the digital transformation happening in most economies and industries, the concept of Digital Rights accelerates to the forefront.
Being Compliant With Cookie Notification Laws & Benefit
As a business owner, you should know your rights, but also the rights of those who visit your website. Their private information should be handled with care. In addition to knowing that they are being tracked by cookies, they should have an understanding of what information will be gathered and how it will be used. This is easily accomplished by adding a banner to your homepage, either at the top or bottom, making them aware of your website’s use of cookies. As a company, cookies enable you to find out what areas, products and services are most attractive to your viewers. By being able to see what areas draw the most interest and returning visits, businesses can utilize this information to make changes to their products and offerings. As a website visitor, people want to know that you are tracking and gathering this information.
It’s imperative that you comply with the cookie notification law and by doing so you can actually benefit from it. The law requires that any and all websites offer a cookie notification to viewers which should also include what data is collected and how it will be used. This gives you the ability to gain vital information on potential customers such as age demographics, location, what items/information they are most interested in and even what areas of your website gets the most attention. These key pieces of information will help you to better target your audience and make any changes needed.
User Benefits
For those that sell and offer services, websites will be able to determine what their potential best sellers are and market those offers during future visits from viewers. In reality, cookies are helpful to both the business and consumer. For the consumer, they will get an enhanced browsing or shopping experience. This also allows the shopping experience to be better, since cookies typically keep the shopping cart and browsing history on the different pages of a website and will often show items that were related to a previous search. It will also show actual products and pages that they had visited earlier.
Setup for Cookie Notification
Regardless of what type of website you have, the cookie notification on your website can be done easily by choosing a program or plugin that is affordable and will keep you compliant. There are a variety of options available that will create cookie notification banners or pop ups to ensure your business is staying compliant with the law and will inform your visitors on what type of information your website is tracking while they are using your website.