In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about a cookie policy, when you need a cookie policy for your WordPress website and why it can be beneficial for your website. We clarify the difference between cookie banner, cookie policy and privacy policy and show you how a cookie policy creates transparency and strengthens the trust of your website visitors.
Real Cookie Banner offers you the option to create a cookie policy since version 4.8.0.
In today’s digital world, there are many legal requirements to consider when it comes to data protection and cookies. Cookies are small text files that are stored on your website visitors’ devices when they visit your website. They help store information about their behavior and preferences.
A cookie policy is not a legal requirement, but much of the information that is mandatory under the GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive fits into a cookie policy rather than a privacy policy, which is often not yet included on many websites anyway. A cookie policy can therefore be a useful addition to the cookie banner and privacy policy. For more information about cookies and how to manage, delete, and block them as a website visitor, check out our dedicated article.
There are significant differences between a cookie policy, a cookie banner and a privacy policy. All three elements are important for data protection on your website, but fulfil different functions. Below, these differences are explained in detail to illustrate how they complement each other and why they may each be necessary.
A cookie banner obtains the consent of your users both for the setting of cookies and for the processing of personal data requiring consent and informs them about the types of cookies used and their purpose, as well as about the data processing of personal data that takes place on the website. The cookie banner thus fulfills the information obligation under Art. 13 GDPR by informing your users comprehensively about the processing of personal data. We explain whether you even need a cookie banner for your WordPress website in a separate article.
Privacy Policy
A privacy policy is a comprehensive document that describes the general handling of personal data on the website and, if applicable, the entire company. It usually also describes what cookies are and that they may process personal data. However, it often does not go into detail as to which service processes which cookies and for what purposes. However, this should be explained, and due to the scope of the information, it is worth linking to a separate cookie policy so that the privacy policy remains easy to read.
The cookie policy serves as a supplement to the cookie banner in order to keep it as short as possible and not to keep your website visitors busy with too much general information about cookies in the cookie banner. The cookie policy provides more detailed information on how cookies work, who can use or read cookies and categories the cookies used both technically and legally. In addition, the cookie policy transparently shows which cookie is set by which service and for what reason.
No, a cookie policy is not mandatory. The legislator does not require that the applicable information obligations must be provided in this form. However, a lot of the content found in a cookie policy is required under the GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive. It can also be included in a privacy policy or a cookie banner.
In practice, a consent management platform (cookie banner) should have recorded all the technical information that can be found in a cookie policy, so that this software can usually also generate a cookie policy with further explanations.
A cookie policy can be beneficial for you, even if it is not required by law. It offers numerous advantages for you as a website operator and for your users by providing more transparency and improving understanding of the use of cookies. We explain the most important reasons for and benefits of a cookie policy!
Transparency
Disclosing your data protection practices creates trust and respect among your customers. Customers often favor companies that communicate transparently and openly about data protection and cookies.
User expectations
Many of your website visitors know and even expect a cookie policy. Especially in countries where cookie policies are ‘best practice’ (e.g. Italy), expectations can otherwise be disappointed and the (false) impression can arise that you as a website operator are not fulfilling your obligations. In German-speaking countries, too, website operators are therefore increasingly relying on the use of a cookie policy.
Comprehensibility
Even if the interest in the details of the cookies used is probably quite low among most of your customers, a cookie policy provides clear explanations of the cookies used and can therefore help the few interested users of your website to understand what you use on your website, how and why.
Legal certainty
A cookie policy supports the fulfillment of the requirements of existing data protection laws such as the GDPR and the ePrivacy Directive (implemented in Germany by the TDDDG). Transparency is a principle of data processing according to Art. 5 (1) (a) GDPR and also Article 5 (3) ePrivacy Directive provides for clear and comprehensive information prior to the consent of your website visitors. It can also prepare for future legal changes and improve internal compliance. A transparent cookie policy can therefore help to avoid fines and claims for damages.
- Install Real Cookie Banner (free or PRO version).
- In the WordPress backend, go to Cookies > Settings > General > Cookie Policy page. Click on ‘Create page’ there.
- Real Cookie Banner automatically creates a cookie policy from the information entered in the cookie banner. The content is updated regularly and automatically as soon as you make a change to your cookie banner.
- In the WordPress backend under Cookies > Settings > General > Cookie Policy Page > Customize, you can customize the automatically generated texts of the cookie policy and add to them for your case.