HTTP cookies are small text files that websites place and store on the computers and mobile devices of their users. These files are generally used to improve the user experience, but may contain personal information about the user or their behavior on the website.
If your website uses these tracking technologies, you need a dedicated cookie policy.
Download our template below and read our guide to create one for your own website.
1. Generic Cookie Policy Template for Download
Simply click the box below to see an example of a generic cookies policy, or click the button beneath it to download the document in Microsoft Word and PDF file formats.
COOKIE POLICY TEMPLATE [Text Format]
Last updated [month day, year]
INTRODUCTION
[Business Entity Name] (“we” or “us” or “our”) may use cookies, web beacons, tracking pixels, and other tracking technologies when you visit our website [Name of Website.com], including any other media form, media channel, mobile website, or mobile application related or connected thereto (collectively, the “Site”) to help customize the Site and improve your experience.
We reserve the right to make changes to this Cookie Policy at any time and for any reason. We will alert you about any changes by updating the “Last Updated” date of this Cookie Policy. Any changes or modifications will be effective immediately upon posting the updated Cookie Policy on the Site, and you waive the right to receive specific notice of each such change or modification.
You are encouraged to periodically review this Cookie Policy to stay informed of updates. You will be deemed to have been made aware of, will be subject to, and will be deemed to have accepted the changes in any revised Cookie Policy by your continued use of the Site after the date such revised Cookie Policy is posted.
USE OF COOKIES
A “cookie” is a string of information which assigns you a unique identifier that we store on your computer. Your browser then provides that unique identifier to use each time you submit a query to the Site. We use cookies on the Site to, among other things, keep track of services you have used, record registration information, record your user preferences, keep you logged into the Site, facilitate purchase procedures, and track the pages you visit. Cookies help us understand how the Site is being used and improve your user experience.
TYPES OF COOKIES
The following types of cookies may be used when you visit the Site:
Advertising Cookies
Advertising cookies are placed on your computer by advertisers and ad servers in order to display advertisements that are most likely to be of interest to you. These cookies allow advertisers and ad servers to gather information about your visits to the Site and other websites, alternate the ads sent to a specific computer, and track how often an ad has been viewed and by whom. These cookies are linked to a computer and do not gather any personal information about you.
Analytics Cookies
Analytics cookies monitor how users reached the Site, and how they interact with and move around once on the Site. These cookies let us know what features on the Site are working the best and what features on the Site can be improved.
Our Cookies
Our cookies are “first-party cookies”, and can be either permanent or temporary. These are necessary cookies, without which the Site won’t work properly or be able to provide certain features and functionalities. Some of these may be manually disabled in your browser, but may affect the functionality of the Site.
Personalization Cookies
Personalization cookies are used to recognize repeat visitors to the Site. We use these cookies to record your browsing history, the pages you have visited, and your settings and preferences each time you visit the Site.
Security Cookies
Security cookies help identify and prevent security risks. We use these cookies to authenticate users and protect user data from unauthorized parties.
Site Management Cookies
Site management cookies are used to maintain your identity or session on the Site so that you are not logged off unexpectedly, and any information you enter is retained from page to page. These cookies cannot be turned off individually, but you can disable all cookies in your browser.
Third-Party Cookies
Third-party cookies may be place on your computer when you visit the Site by companies that run certain services we offer. These cookies allow the third parties to gather and track certain information about you. These cookies can be manually disabled in your browser.
[Other]
[Other]
CONTROL OF COOKIES
Most browsers are set to accept cookies by default. However, you can remove or reject cookies in your browser’s settings. Please be aware that such action could affect the availability and functionality of the Site.
For more information on how to control cookies, check your browser or device’s settings for how you can control or reject cookies, or visit the following links:
In addition, you may opt-out of some third-party cookies through the Network Advertising Initiative’s Opt-Out Tool.
OTHER TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES
In addition to cookies, we may use web beacons, pixel tags, and other tracking technologies on the Site to help customize the Site and improve your experience. A “web beacon” or “pixel tag” is tiny object or image embedded in a web page or email. They are used to track the number of users who have visited particular pages and viewed emails, and acquire other statistical data. They collect only a limited set of data, such as a cookie number, time and date of page or email view, and a description of the page or email on which they reside. Web beacons and pixel tags cannot be declined. However, you can limit their use by controlling the cookies that interact with them.
PRIVACY POLICY
For more information about how we use information collected by cookies and other tracking technologies, please refer to our Privacy Policy [CLICK HERE]/posted on the Site. This Cookie Policy is part of and is incorporated into our Privacy Policy. By using the Site, you agree to be bound by this Cookie Policy and our Privacy Policy.
CONTACT US
If you have questions or comments about this Cookie Policy, please contact us at:
[Company Name]
[Street Address]
[City, State Zip]
[Phone Number]
[Fax Number]
[Email]
2. What is a Cookie Policy?
A cookie policy is a legal document that provides information about the types of cookies used by your website or app, what those cookies do, and how users can control their cookie preferences.
In addition to cookies, the policy should outline other types of tracking technologies that may be used by your site — such as web beacons and pixel tags.
Your cookie policy should be accessible from the homepage of your website (either through the main menu, the footer, or both), and should be linked to within any relevant policies, such as your privacy policy.
Why is a cookie policy required?
Cookie disclaimers are required in both the US and the EU. However, there are no laws in the US that explicitly mandate a cookie policy needs to be held separately from a privacy policy.
In the EU, on the other hand, dedicated cookie policies are required by laws such as the GDPR and EU Cookie Law (otherwise known as the ePrivacy Directive).
While these laws are based in the EU, they apply to all businesses that market to EU consumers. This means that even US businesses who have EU customers need a dedicated cookie policy, that also meets the transparency and consent requirements of the Cookie Law.
To learn more about the various laws governing cookie use, check out our guide to website cookies.
Do I need a separate cookies policy and privacy policy?
A privacy policy is used to disclose information about how you, as a business, collect, share, and treat the data of your consumers. If you use cookies, this will be indicated in your privacy policy.
Privacy policies are used to broadly discuss data-handling practices — both related to cookies and otherwise. A cookie policy is used only to discuss cookies, outline cookie use thoroughly, and explain how users can control their cookie preferences.
If your website deploys cookies, this should be disclosed in both your cookie policy AND your privacy policy. Your dedicated cookie policy should be linked within the cookies disclaimer or cookie notice section of your privacy policy.
3. What to Include in a Cookie Policy
A comprehensive cookies policy will contain the following key parts:
- An explanation of what website cookies are
- A description of the types of first-party cookies used by your site
- A description of the types of third-party cookies used by your site
- An explanation of how these cookies are used
- An explanation of why these cookies are used
- Detailed instructions on how users can set their cookie preferences
Keep in mind that the purpose of providing a website cookie notice is to notify users that cookies are being used by your site, and to be transparent about that cookie activity. Therefore, cookie policy language should be easy to understand and free of legalese.
Legalese is a style of writing that is overly complicated, uses complex legal jargon, and hides the message in convoluted phrasing.
When filling in your cookie policy template, consider what information the average user is trying to discover by visiting your policy.
If they’ve navigated all the way to your cookie policy, it’s likely that they want to know some information about the cookies you use and what rights they have as consumers. It’s important to outline these details in a way that’s comprehensible — not only to optimize your legal compliance, but also to reassure your users.
4. How to Inform Users of Your Cookie Policy
Links to your cookie policy should be added to your website in multiple locations — including in your footer or main menu, within your privacy policy, and in a privacy center if applicable.
If you create this document yourself, you can house it on a dedicated page on your site, or you can link users to a Word document or pdf file.
Those who take advantage of an online cookie policy generator will likely have the option of having the generator service host the policy for them.
Furthermore, you should advertise your cookie policy to users through a cookie consent banner or pop-up. In accordance with the EU Cookie Law and the GDPR, this banner should ask for users to consent to your site’s cookie policy, as well as provide an opportunity for users to set their cookie preferences.
5. Examples of Cookie Policies
While the content of your policy should reflect the cookie template above and the key features outlined in this guide, the way those details are presented can differ from site to site.
Here are a few examples of cookie policies that are effectively presented to users:
1. Ikea Cookie Policy (Expandable Text)
When visiting Ikea’s cookie policy, you can easily navigate to the section you’re interested in reading. Since each unit is expandable, the bulk of the policy is contained in a table-of-contents style format.
2. BBC Cookie Policy (FAQ Format)
In the BBC’s cookie policy, they take a similar approach to Ikea by relying on expandable sections. However, unlike Ikea’s cookie policy, the BBC employs an FAQ format:
By formatting the cookie policy in an FAQ format, you can anticipate what the users are there to find out, and make finding the answers to those questions easier.
Utilizing an FAQ format is a good strategy across policies. For example, use a privacy policy template that takes advantage of the FAQ format to anticipate commonly asked questions about data collection, in much the same way you would about cookies.
6. Conclusion
As data privacy and the role of cookies in data collection become topics of increasing discussion, new cookie laws are cropping up, and existing laws are hammering down on non-compliant companies.
Often, complying with these pieces of legislation comes down to being transparent with your users. The easiest way to do this is by offering a detailed cookie policy. If you use cookies and don’t yet have a cookie policy, scan your site and generate a customized policy in minutes with our cookie consent manager.
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