Stay Cookie Compliant with Auto Cookie Blocking

  


“Cookie consent” is definitely one of the mantras for 2023. Even though the concept has been around for a while, this is the year that lawmakers, businesses, and end users are really taking it seriously. It’s all about getting user permission before collecting, tracking, and handling their data.  

 

Many websites and business owners have tackled this problem with a cookie consent banner. That’s the pop-up you see on most websites informing you of a cookie policy, and asking whether or not you would like to accept cookies, reject cookies, or set custom cookie preferences.  

 

Laws like the General Data Protection Act (GDPR) have special requirements for these cookie banners. Simply having a cookie banner isn’t enough for businesses – they must follow a specific set of guidelines, like having all buttons equally sized and accessible, having a plain-language privacy policy, and making it easy for end users to adjust their preferences or contact you if need be.  

 

But what happens if a user visits your website and doesn’t ever click any of those buttons? What if they completely ignore your cookie banner and continue browsing the site? It’s not lawful to block them from browsing, so how can you possibly get what you need to stay compliant as a business? 

 

The answer? Auto cookie blocking.  

 

Since it’s not lawful to block users from visiting your site if they ignore your cookie banner, auto cookie blocking is a great way to stay in compliance. Of course, there are cookies used to keep your website functional. Those are called strictly necessary cookies, and under all existing data privacy laws worldwide, do not require consent from the user. The rest of the cookies do, however. By automatically blocking all of those other cookies until a user responds to your cookie banner, you can keep your users safe and your business compliant.  

 

What is auto cookie blocking?  

 

Auto cookie blocking, or auto-blocking cookies, is a practice that’s being implemented by more and more website owners as a measure to protect themselves against fines or reputational damage under laws like the GDPR, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), the Virginia Consumer Data Privacy Act (VCDPA) and many more. This is a function that’s set up on the back end. Your end users won’t have to lift a finger to stay safe when they browse your site – and that’s a good thing.  

 

Most browsers allow users to block cookies on their end, for a specific device, on a specific site. However, businesses can’t rely on the end user to always make that choice, or even know that choice exists. That’s why laws put the burden of responsibility on the business or website owner. Beyond staying in compliance, it’s also a smart choice for your business.  

 

Did you know? 

72% of cookies are so-called Trojan horses hidden within other cookies.  

 

By auto-blocking cookies, you could also potentially save yourself the risk of a data security breach. Yes, data security and data privacy are two different things – but we’ll cover that topic another time.  

 

How many of my business resources will auto cookie blocking exhaust?  

 

Many small and medium sized businesses don’t have a lot of resources to turn to. Regardless of what issue they are facing, time and money are always tight. Good news: auto cookie blocking could help you save on both!   

 

By automatically blocking cookies, you’re demonstrating to your website visitors that you can be trusted. Instead of presenting as a company that simply wants user data to generate revenue, you’re showing end users that you value their privacy more.  

 

Studies show that users are, in fact, more likely to trust your business or website if you have a reputable cookie banner and auto cookie blocking enabled. Naturally, if more people trust your business, they will probably spend more time and money there. As if that weren’t enough of a perk, you’ll also be saving your company in potential fines or penalties down the road. That’s how it helps you save money. But how does it help you save time? 

 

The average SME (small to medium enterprise) owner spends about 16 hours per week on administrative tasks. That’s a part-time job, right there. Now, if you factor in trying to respond to customer requests about their data without the right information, speaking to regulators about fines, and studying up on the laws yourself, you could easily double that number. Automatic cookie blocking, when implemented properly, can eliminate all three of those factors. It doesn’t take long to set up, either. In fact, it’s so easy that even a total beginner would have no trouble at all.  

 

How can I be sure my cookie solution has auto cookie blocking?  

 

You’ll need to check with your provider! Ask questions like:  

  • Which cookie banner do I use?  

  • How did I set it up?  

  • Do I have a way to contact my cookie management solution company?  

 

If your cookie management solution did not come with an auto cookie blocking option, chances are, you need a new cookie management solution. This is becoming a vital part of the law in many, many regions. There’s no need to pay for a solution that doesn’t look out for the future of your business compliance.  

 

Get the right solution – the Adzapier solution!  

 

Adzapier was founded on the principles of making the internet a safer place, for end users and for businesses. We understand the legal side, the tech side, and the marketing side of running a business, and we want to help you. Even though data privacy can be a complicated landscape, our pros are here to guide you every step of the way.  

The Adzapier Cookie Consent Management solution is a comprehensive, easy-to-use tool that can help get your business in compliance with worldwide data privacy laws. We’ll provide you with:  

  • A compliant cookie banner + cookie policy template  

  • Records of consent  

  • Auto cookie blocking  

 

We’re standing by and ready to get you started. Just schedule a quick demo with one of our data privacy wizards. Then, sign up for a 14-day free trial to see if our product is right for you.  

 

Hint: The answer starts with Y and ends with ES.   

 


Schedule a Demo   

Location: United States

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