What are cookies?
Cookies are pieces of information that are placed on your browser when you visit a website or use a social network with your computer, smartphone or tablet.
Each cookie contains various data such as the name of the server it comes from, a numeric identifier, etc..
Cookies may remain on your system for the duration of a session (i.e. until you close the browser you are using to browse the web) or for long periods and may contain a unique identifier.
What are cookies used for?
Some cookies are used to perform computer authentication, session tracking and store specific information about users accessing a web page.
These so-called technical cookies are often useful because they can make browsing and using the web faster and more convenient, for example when you shop online, when you log in to restricted areas or when a website automatically recognises the language you use.
A particular type of cookie, called analytics, is then used by website operators to collect information, in aggregate form, on the number of users and how they visit the site itself, and then develop general statistics on the service and its use.
Other cookies may instead be used to monitor and profile users while they are browsing, to study their movements and habits when consulting the web or consuming (what they buy, what they read, etc.), also for the purpose of sending targeted and personalised advertising services (so-called Behavioural Advertising). In this case we are talking about profiling cookies.
For example: have you ever visited a service site, used your webmail or accessed your page on a social network and found banner ads linked to your latest web search or the last purchase you made on the Internet?
This is because these web spaces are designed to recognise your computer or other terminal that you use to connect to the web (smartphone, tablet), and possibly send you promotional messages that are ‘profiled’ according to your searches and your Internet use.
It may also happen that a web page contains cookies from other sites and contained in various elements hosted on the page itself, such as advertising banners, images, videos, etc.. We speak, in these cases, of so-called third-party cookies, which are usually used for profiling purposes.
So the cookies you download on your PC, smartphone and tablet can also be read by other parties other than the ones managing the web pages you visit.
Cookies and privacy
Given the particular invasiveness that profiling cookies (especially third-party cookies) can have on users’ privacy, European and Italian law requires users to be adequately informed about their use and to give their valid consent to the placement of cookies on their terminal equipment.
In particular, with the provision “Identification of simplified procedures for the information and the acquisition of consent for the use of cookies” of 8 May 2014 [doc web n. 3118884] the Guarantor for the protection of personal data has established that when accessing the home page or another page of a website that uses cookies for profiling and marketing purposes must immediately display a banner clearly indicating:
1) that the site uses profiling cookies to send targeted advertising messages;
2) that the site also allows the sending of “third-party” cookies, in the event that this type of cookie is used, i.e. cookies installed by a different site via the site you are visiting;
3) a link to more extensive information, with indications on the use of cookies sent by the site, where it is possible to refuse consent to their installation directly or by linking to the various sites in the case of “third party” cookies;
4) an indication that by continuing to browse the site (e.g. by accessing another area of the site or selecting an image or a link) you consent to the use of cookies.
In any case, in addition to the protections provided, you also have other options for browsing without cookies
Block third-party cookies
Third-party cookies are generally not essential to your browsing experience, so you can refuse them by default, using the appropriate settings in your browser.
Enable the Do Not Track option
The Do Not Track option is available on most modern browsers. Websites designed to respect this option should automatically stop collecting some of your browsing data when it is activated. As mentioned, however, not all websites are set up to respect this (discretionary) option.
Activate the Do Not Track option
The Do Not Track option is present in most of the latest browsers. Websites designed to comply with this option should automatically stop collecting some of your browsing data when it is activated. As mentioned, however, not all websites are set up to respect this (discretionary) option.
Activate ‘anonymous browsing’ mode
With this function you can surf without leaving any trace of your surfing data in the browser. Sites will not remember you, the pages you visit will not be stored in the history and new cookies will be deleted.
However, anonymous browsing does not guarantee anonymity on the Internet, as it only serves to keep your surfing data out of your browser, whereas your surfing data will continue to be available to website operators and connectivity providers.
Delete cookies directly
There are functions for this in all browsers. However, remember that new cookies are downloaded every time you connect to the Internet, so you should delete them periodically. If you wish, some browsers offer automated systems to delete cookies periodically.
*This fact sheet was created before the implementation of EU Regulation 679/2016 on 25 May 2018, which must be taken into account when consulting it.
SOURCE: AUTORITA’ PER LA PROTEZIONE DEI DATI DELL’ITALIA – GPDP