According to research, over a third of websites still do not comply with the rules on cookie consent.
Just to be clear, the law has not changed in a number of years, but the ICO is more focussed on targeting non-compliance at the moment. As an example, the ICO has reprimanded Sky Betting and Gaming for using cookies without consent, and you can read details of their action at https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/media-centre/news-and-blogs/2024/09/action-taken-against-sky-betting-and-gaming-for-using-cookies-without-consent/.
Now would be a good time to check that your website is compliant. So how do you know? Well, again according to the ICO your website developer should be able to explain:
- How they are complying with the ICO requirements at https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/direct-marketing-and-privacy-and-electronic-communications/guide-to-pecr/guidance-on-the-use-of-cookies-and-similar-technologies/how-do-we-comply-with-the-cookie-rules/ and in particular where it says ‘You should also provide more detailed information about cookies in a privacy or cookie policy accessed through a link within the consent mechanism and at the top or bottom of your website.’
- Whether they have a mechanism like that at https://ico.org.uk, which presents cookie options to accept or reject non-essential cookies, or at https://zorva.info (a similar thing but from a different cookie consent provider). In either case, you need to clear cookies first which will make you appear as a first-time visitor.
If you would like to know how we manage our cookie consent, using a service which is paid-for but not expensive, then just book a call below and we will be happy to share.