Have you already applied the new guidelines of the European Data Protection Committee with the Guide on the use of cookies from the AEPD? If you haven't done so yet, in this article we are going to bring you up to date on everything you need to know. It's important!
Let's start with a quick recap of what cookies are . These are text files generated by a web server and sent to a web browser for the purpose of collecting information about users' activity and interaction with a specific website. These files are essential for the website to remember preferences, histories and other settings, thus contributing to significantly improving navigation.
Since they process personal data, some require consent, which is why the user should always be informed of their existence and use by means of a notice or pop-up that allows them to manage them. In this way, cookies allow more relevant ads to be shown based on interests and browsing behavior, so they play a fundamental role in improving the online experience, despite certain prejudices and controversies.
With this in mind, adapting to the recent guidelines is not only a regulatory issue, but also becomes a valuable opportunity to demonstrate to your audience your commitment to protecting their privacy. By keeping up to date with the new obligations established by the cookie law, you transmit confidence to your users, giving them the peace of mind of being able to explore your ecommerce at ease, with total freedom and security.
Main changes required by the AEPD in the use of cookies
Since July 2023, the AEPD has stressed the importance of adopting the new guidelines in the latest version of the Guide on the use of cookies. These are in line with the guidelines established by the European Data Protection Committee in February 2023 on deceptive patterns. Over the course of these months, a six-month transitional period was established to implement the necessary changes in the use of cookies . Finally, on January 11, 2024, the guidelines established by the AEPD Guide on the use of Cookies came into force. Below we will tell you the key points that your cookie pop-up notice should already have.Cookie banner
The cookie banner must clearly display the buttons to accept or reject cookies, placing them at the same level. Banners that only have the "ACCEPT" and "CONFIGURE COOKIES" options will no longer be valid. The "REJECT ALL COOKIES" button must be easily accessible and visible to ensure a clear and transparent browsing experience for users.
Transparent information in the cookie policy
The information set out in the cookie policy must use simple language , understandable to all users and must contain data about:- What are cookies and what their function is?
- Types of cookies and their purpose.
- Who is the owner of each cookie and whether they will be processed by the same or by a third party.
- Instructions for accepting, rejecting or revoking consent.
- Whether international data transfer will take place.
Customised cookies
The cookie banner must contain buttons to accept and reject cookies, but users must also be able to choose which cookies to activate or deactivate according to their preferences . In the case of personalized cookies, those that process information about the language, currency or appearance of the website, the user's consent is required to use them for advertising purposes.GDPR 2024 Cookie Law Module: Comply with the Regulations
Nowadays, keeping up with legal developments and adapting to regulations is essential for any company committed to the integrity and privacy of its users. In this context, we present our latest release: the GDPR 2024 Cookie Law Module , developed by Línea Gráfica. With this module for Prestashop , we seek to offer an agile and effective response to the need of all website owners to adapt and comply with the recent guidelines established by the AEPD. It is essential to ensure that your website complies with current regulations , and our module is designed to help you with this! In addition to allowing you to comply with the Cookie Guidelines, you can:- Customize the notification message, the title of the buttons (accept, reject, configuration...), the design (text color, html code...).
- It is a multi-language module in which you can also configure the position for the banner (top, bottom and floating).
- LockLocks (or freezes) the screen until the user accepts or rejects cookies.
- The banner is not visible to search engine robots crawling your website, which will not affect your SEO.
- By default, the following cookies have been included: functional (technical); advertising; analytical; performance; other cookies. However, you have the option to add and modify the groups of purposes of the cookies .
