When entering Georgian or foreign websites, we have probably all come across a statement warning with similar content “this website uses cookies” and to continue visiting the site, we have automatically, unknowingly, or knowingly agreed to the use/acceptance of these files. What is a cookie anyway and what does it have to do with cookies or personal data?
In the nineties, websites had a very hard time remembering visitors and the actions they took on the sites. To solve this problem, in 1994, Louis Montulli (known as Lou Montulli) invented the cookie file, hence the term “cookie” was first used by him. The inspiration for the name became the fortune cookie. Montuli liked the concept of the fortune cookie, which is a snack with a piece of advice or “prophecy” placed in its heart. Like fortune cookies, computer cookies often contain information that helps websites remember important information about users.
More specifically, a cookie is a text file containing a small amount of information that is downloaded to your computer, phone, or other device when you visit a website. After that, when you visit the same site/server, your browser sends data to the site/server, as a result, the cookie “recognizes” you and remembers your behavior on the site.
Cookies, through which the user is identified, are considered personal data and are subject to the Law of Georgia “On Personal Data Protection”.
Therefore, if you own a site, you are obligated to, among other things:
- Get the user’s consent before using the cookie file. This obligation does not apply to cookies necessary for the basic purposes of the website;
- Before obtaining consent, provide the user with accurate information in simple language about the data stored by each cookie and its purpose;
- enable the user to use your service, even if he refuses to accept a specific cookie;
- Simplify the process of withdrawing consent given by the user regarding cookies.
