Tapping into the digital customer base has become standard procedure for business outreach. While uploading attractive content, dabbling in fresh ideas, and encouraging client feedback is vital for any business' success in the online sphere, keeping abreast of digital laws is equally important.  

Recently, the European Union addressed customer privacy by requiring all digital publishers to give EU visitors information about cookies used on their websites, blog and apps. Publishers are also required to get consent from EU users. In light of these laws, Google has automatically provided a cookie notification bar for the Blogger platform. Every time a user from the European Union accesses a blog on Blogger, a standardized message will appear:

"This site uses cookies from Google to deliver services, to personalize ads and to analyze traffic. Information about your use of this site is shared with Google. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. Learn More. Got It."

A EU cookie notification bar is only viewed by EU customers. Without such a notification, a blog, app or website may be banned. This policy also applies if a digital publisher is using third-party services such as Google AdSense and Google Analytics.

There are many options for businesses who have blogs and websites registered under custom domain names. While information from data protection authorities and IABs across Europe is always available, there are many digital vendors who offer legitimate solutions to add a cookie consent function to your website or blog. Some of them even do it for free. They include:

• Cookie Consent Kit from the European Commission
• Cookie Control by CIVIC 
• OneTrust
• Cookiebot by Cybot
• Cookie Consent by Silktide

One option is to redirect EU users who click on the link in your cookie notification bar, to a page that details your business's privacy policies. Another option is to have a separate page dedicated to cookie usage and third-party services. Either way, incorporating a consent mechanism is a regulatory must. A cookie notification bar helps keep your business website, blog or app compliant with European cookie and data protection directives, as well as digital privacy laws.

For more information on the latest digital news, software trends and online publishing laws, please contact us.