EU Citizens! Are you compliant with the cookie law?
What is the Cookie law?
As funny as its name might be the Cookie Law is something that a lot of E.U. Citizens might overlook.
Since 2011 an EU Directive was adopted by all EU countries which gives individuels the right to refuse the use of cookies.
What is a cookie?
Cookies are a term to design short term memory for the web.
It's information that is stored on your bowser and enables a website to remember small bits of information between pages or visits.
You probably noticed that when you entered your email address for a website once, the information will be stocked by that website.
So when you want to re-enter your email address it already shows up before you even typed it.
Well this what are called cookies.
If cookies are a good thing to make your web experience more personal, some cookies collect data to create 'behavioural profiles' of people.
Your information can be used into deciding what content will be shown regarding your preferences.
Have you noticed how you always get ads about a topic you have already researched ?
Well , this is how cookies can be used against your will.
Giving people the option to refuse cookies gives them more control over their privacy policy.
All websites that provide its services to citizens within the EU are expected to comply with the cookie law !
How to add a cookie script to your website?
I think there are many websites offering cookie scripts but I came accross Cookie Script which offers free cookie scripts that are easy to install even when you have no experience in coding. https://cookie-script.com/account.html
You will first need to register for free before you can access further details, templates, demos,..
Then just follow the easy steps.
- Add a new item
- Choose a name
- Choose a design and template ( your cookie script can show in the header, right or left footer or full footer).
- Change the settings if you want. ( I left the settings as they were)
- You can also change colors but only with a premium account
- Save your cookie script
- On the nest page click on use item.
- Copy the code and insert it to your website
How to insert the code on your website?
Once you copied the code go to your website.
Click on appearance - editor
Paste the script snippet in the footer of your website just before </body> tag.
You have to put the code on all pages where you want the cookie script to show up. ( I have placed it only once in the footer and it shows on all pages)
You have to put the code on your website only once as it will pop up automatically.
Done!
Please like and share if you think this information is useful :)
Don't hesitate to ask if you have any more questions about the cookie law!
Have a great day!
Angélique
Recent Comments
56
It works! I must check with http://brokenlinkcheck.com/ if I have broken links, because last time the plugin broke my links.
I can't check now, it is a problem with their site!Thanks for this!
My site is under my profile, I want to ask you a favor, please have a look and tell me if it loads quickly, because I made some changes!
Yeah! I checked your website and it loads quite fast. I can see the cookie script so it's working just fine :)
My site doesn't specifically target EU citizens (I am based in Canada), but I do get traffic from the EU. So I guess I need this then? I do have the plugin, but was thinking of removing it because it blocks the bottom of my footer (maybe I will just switch to a different plugin)
According to the law Yes. But you would have to check with the powers that be within your own country what they would do if they received notification from an EU authority regarding non-compliance.
Angélique
Sorry you state "All websites owned in the EU are expected to comply with the cookie law !" This is incorrect.
The correct statement is "All websites that provide it's services to citizens within the EU" are expected to comply with the cookie law. The purpose of the law is to protect EU citizens.
So in effect only those websites that block access to EU citizens are exempt from the Cookie Law. The country in which the website is hosted is irrelevant as is the nationality of it's owner.
All websites based in the EU or that target EU citizens are expected to comply with the law so I recommend you to do so
Jovo, I was told that if you have any amazon links your site is automatically considered to be using cookies. Not sure why this is, but that is what I was told.
Angelique, is there some less annoying way. I checked at your site, does it really have to be this popup?
I use a plugin. If you go to Marion Blacks profile look through her trainings. She has one about am EU cookie plugin
No Jovo, there are different designs. It can also be placed in the full header or footer. The thing is that you can't make a lot of changes when you are a free member but who would like to pay for something like that, right?
I know there are some plugins but I 'd prefer not to use another plugin (for the reasons we all know).
Maybe you should have a look at the plugin that Marion speaks about in her training.
I am quite ok with the pop up because I know it's not something that really bothers people since we are so used to it.
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I don't understand why this is necessary!
You can find more information about the cookie law here:
https://www.cookielaw.org/the-cookie-law/
http://ec.europa.eu/ipg/basics/legal/cookies/index_en.htm
Thanks Angelique! I will.
Laws are laws not necessary for us to understand them. If you are ever bored then you can find detail on the European Commissions website.