Written by María Navarro
Índice
A cookie is a small information file that is stored in the user’s browser when visiting a website.
The main purpose of cookies is to remember the user’s settings and preferences, which makes browsing smoother and avoids repetitive tasks such as logging in whenever the user exits and re-enters the page where they are browsing.
Today virtually all browsers support cookies and although most users ignore the Cookies Policy notice, for those users who may be interested, the use of cookies can be configured in your web browser. Selecting whether they should be deleted, accepted or blocked.
There are different types of cookies and they are classified by categories. It should be noted that the same cookie may belong to more than one category.
It is important to know that there are mainly two types of cookies that work by lifetime, “session cookies” and “persistent cookies”.
- Session cookies are temporary. The file remains stored in the user’s browser but is deleted as soon as the user logs out. This type of cookies are mainly used to analyze web traffic patterns to provide better content and browsing experience.
- Persistent cookies are stored on the user’s computer hard drive and can only be deleted manually by the user, although they must also have a specific expiration date so that after that date they no longer work. The expiration time can range from a few minutes to several years. This type of cookies are mainly used to store records and purchase services.
Third-party cookies are those installed by a website that the user is not visiting. For example, a website that has a Facebook Like button may set a cookie that Facebook can read, so you are visiting a page that has nothing to do with Facebook but the browser saves a Facebook cookie.
Unlike third-party cookies, first-party cookies are those that are stored on the user’s computer but come only from the website that is being visited.
The data that make up the cookies can be treated in one way or another and depending on the purpose they have can distinguish several types such as:
- Technical cookies: they allow to control traffic and data communications.
- Analysis cookies: allow the party responsible for them to analyze and monitor the behavior of the user who uses websites that contain them, allowing the generation of a user profile. An example of these are Google Analytics cookies:
- Advertising Cookies: collect performance data on advertising spaces are used to optimize campaigns and know the frequency at which an ad is displayed.
- Personalization cookies: those that allow users to access according to some of their own characteristics that are collected (language, browser, regional configuration, etc.).
Cookie Policy in Spain
The 2002 European Union directive on privacy in telecommunications contains rules on the use of cookies.
The two most important obligations under the regulations are the duty to inform the user and the need to obtain the user’s consent.
Where to place the Cookie Policy notice?
The location of the Cookie Policy notice information on the website should be placed in a visible and accessible area that catches the user’s attention. The cookie notice is usually placed in the header or footer and should be maintained on all pages until it is accepted by the user. Normally we find notices that warn that if you continue browsing the website will be given as accepted the “Cookies Policy”.
What to take into account when drafting the Cookie Policy?
As for the wording of the legal text of the Cookies Policy, it must be taken into account that the information must be clear and complete, making a thorough explanation of the use that will be made of such cookies. It must also be made very clear what type of cookies are being used and what will be the purpose of the treatment. Finally, it is always necessary to provide information on how to revoke the consent of such cookies and delete them.
