Legislation on advertising and e-commerce includes regulations on the use of cookies on websites, in force since 1 April 2012. These regulations require website owners to clearly inform users and obtain their consent before using this type of technology on their sites.

What are cookies?
A cookie is a small piece of information sent by a website and stored in the user's browser, so that the website can consult the user's previous activity.

Their main functions are:
Tracking users: when a user enters their username and password, a cookie is stored so they do not have to re-enter them on every page of the server. However, a cookie does not identify a person alone, but rather a computer-browser-user combination.

Gathering information about the user's browsing habits. This can raise privacy concerns and is one of the reasons cookies have their detractors.

What does the law require?
The law requires website owners to inform users clearly and completely before installing a cookie, and to obtain their explicit consent to store cookies on their computer during their visit to the website.

How to comply with cookie regulations?
Your website must provide users with the following information:
What a cookie is and the types that exist.
The purpose of the cookies used on the website.
Information on how to disable cookies in the browser.
External references with more information.

Are companies being fined for non-compliance?
Two Spanish companies have already been sanctioned for using Google Analytics, Google Maps, YouTube, and WordPress, among others, by installing cookies from these services without complying with the Cookie Law. The fines are €3,000 for the first company and €500 for the second.

If you have any questions about these regulations or your company's current compliance, do not hesitate to contact us.