Overview of the Updated Cookie Policy

UK Tech News, the London-based technology news platform, has published an updated Cookie Policy effective from 4 June 2025. The document outlines how the website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance user experience, analyse traffic, and deliver personalised advertising. The policy applies specifically to citizens and legal permanent residents of the United Kingdom, reflecting the regulatory framework under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR).

Cookies are small text files stored on a user's device by the browser. They serve multiple functions: remembering login details, recording browsing behaviour, and enabling interactive features. The policy categorises cookies into several types: technical/functional, statistics, advertising, marketing/tracking, and social media. Each category requires different levels of user consent, with functional cookies considered essential for website operation and therefore not requiring opt-in consent.

Types of Cookies Used

Technical or Functional Cookies

These cookies ensure that certain parts of the website work properly and maintain user preferences. For example, they keep items in a shopping cart until payment is completed and remember language settings. The policy states that functional cookies can be placed without user consent because they are necessary for the website's core functionality. Examples include cookies set by CloudFlare for content delivery and security (mirage_cache_manifest, __cf_bm), PHP session cookies (exp), and WordPress user preference cookies (WP_PREFERENCES_USER_, wp-settings-).

Statistics Cookies

Statistics cookies help website owners understand how visitors interact with the site by collecting anonymised data. UK Tech News uses Google Analytics (cookies _ga, _gid, _ga_) to track page views and user sessions. Hotjar provides heat maps and session recordings via cookies _hjSession_ and _hjSessionUser_. Snowplow Analytics is also deployed for deeper traffic analysis with cookies like _sp_id that store a unique user ID for up to two years. Consent must be obtained before placing these cookies, as they are not strictly necessary.

Advertising Cookies

Advertising cookies enable the personalisation of advertisements and measurement of campaign effectiveness. UK Tech News partners with multiple ad technology providers. Google Ads sets cookies such as 1p_jar and ads/ga-audiences for remarketing. Facebook uses multiple marketing cookies including _fbp (3 months), fr (3 months), and xs (3 months) to track visits across websites and deliver targeted ads. Criteo deploys cto_bundle (13 months) for cross-page functionality. These cookies are classified as tracking cookies and require explicit user consent.

Marketing/Tracking Cookies

Marketing or tracking cookies create user profiles to display relevant advertising or track users across websites. The policy notes that such cookies are used by Google various services (__gpi), One Signal for push notifications (isPushNotificationsEnabled), and HubSpot for marketing automation (__hstc, hubspotutk). Twitter (now X) sets metrics_token to track embedded content views. LinkedIn uses several marketing cookies: lms_ads, _guid, li-oatml, and li_sugr.

Social Media Cookies

The website includes embedded content from Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter) for sharing buttons and displaying feeds. These social media platforms set their own cookies when users interact with embedded elements. For instance, Facebook sets fbm, wd, and csm; LinkedIn sets bcookie, lidc, and bscookie. Since these third-party services are based in the United States, data transfers may occur under Standard Contractual Clauses or other adequacy mechanisms.

Third-Party Services and Data Sharing

The policy lists over 20 third-party services that place cookies on UK Tech News. Notable vendors include:

• Google various services – Used for website development; sets functional and marketing cookies including google_auto_fc_cmp_setting for consent preferences.
• CloudFlare – Content distribution network (CDN) and bot protection; sets __cf_bm (30 minutes) and mirage_cache_manifest.
• Criteo – Remarketing platform; sets cto_bundle (13 months) and cookies pending investigation like criteo_fast_bid.
• Google Analytics – Statistics; cookies _ga (2 years), _gid (1 day), and _gat_gtag_UA_ (1 minute).
• PHP – General website development; sets exp cookies.
• Complianz – Consent management platform; sets 14 functional cookies including cmplz_tcf_consent and cmplz_marketing (365 days).
• One Signal – Push notifications; sets isPushNotificationsEnabled and onesignal-pageview-count.
• Google reCAPTCHA – Spam prevention; sets _grecaptcha (6 months) and rc::a/b/c (session/persistent).
• WordPress – Website development; sets multiple cookies for user preferences, login state, language settings.
• Stripe – Payment processing; sets __stripe_mid (1 year).
• HubSpot – Marketing automation; sets marketing and statistics cookies such as __hstc (13 months) and __hssrc (session).
• Hotjar – Heat maps and session recordings; sets _hjSession_ (session) and _hjSessionUser_ (1 year).
• Facebook – Social sharing; sets a wide range of marketing and functional cookies: _fbp, fbm, xs, fr, act, datr, c_user, sb.
• Google Fonts – Displaying webfonts; sets Google Fonts API (expires immediately).
• Twitter (X) – Social sharing; sets local_storage_support_test and metrics_token.
• LinkedIn – Social sharing and analytics; sets numerous cookies for functional, marketing, statistics, and preferences purposes: sdsc, li_gc, lms_ads, _guid, bcookie, lidc, bscookie.
• Google Ads Optimization – Advertising; sets 1p_jar (1 month).
• Google Ads – Advertising; sets ads/ga-audiences (expires immediately).
• Snowplow – Statistics; sets _sp_id (2 years) and cookies pending investigation.
• Elementor – Content creation; sets elementor (persistent).
• Miscellaneous – A lengthy list of cookies with purpose pending investigation includes perf_, __s3ga4_session_id, _ccmdt, and many others from unknown origins.

Consent Management and User Rights

Upon first visit, UK Tech News displays a pop-up banner allowing users to select which categories of cookies they consent to. Users can click 'Save preferences' to confirm their choices. The policy also provides a TCF (Transparency and Consent Framework) vendor list, though it notes that without JavaScript, the full interactive interface may not load on AMP pages. Users can manage consent via the button on the bottom of the page or through browser settings.

The policy emphasises that disabling all cookies may break some website functionality. Users can also delete cookies manually via browser settings or set browsers to notify them when a cookie is placed. The policy lists users' data rights under UK GDPR: right to know why data is processed, right of access, right to rectification or deletion, right to withdraw consent, right to data portability, and right to object. To exercise these rights, users should contact the publisher at the provided email and physical address.

Background on Cookie Regulation

The UK's data protection landscape has evolved since the implementation of the GDPR in 2018 and its onshored version post-Brexit. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) enforces cookie rules, requiring that non-essential cookies only be placed after users give informed consent. The updated policy from UK Tech News follows the ICO's guidance, which emphasises granular consent options and clear explanations of each cookie's purpose.

Cookies remain a cornerstone of digital advertising and analytics. The policy's extensive list of third-party vendors reflects the complexity of modern web ecosystems. Services like Criteo and Google Ads use cookies to build user profiles for retargeting, while analytics providers like Snowplow and Hotjar help publishers understand audience behaviour. Social media integration through Facebook and LinkedIn allows users to share articles but also tracks their interactions across websites.

The document also highlights the use of Google reCAPTCHA for spam protection, which itself sets cookies that serve both functional and marketing purposes. This dual classification (functional and marketing) is common for security tools that also collect data for Google's advertising network.

Key Takeaways

The comprehensive cookie policy update from UK Tech News demonstrates a commitment to transparency and user control. By categorising cookies into five types and listing each third-party vendor with specific cookie names, expiration periods, and functions, the website provides a detailed resource for users to understand what data is collected and why. The integration of Complianz as a consent management platform ensures that user preferences are stored and respected across sessions.

For marketers and publishers, the policy serves as a model for compliance with UK regulations. The inclusion of a TCF vendor list and legitimate interest considerations shows an awareness of the evolving standards in digital advertising consent. Users concerned about privacy can review the specific cookies and adjust their settings accordingly, while those who accept all cookies can help support free access to content through personalised advertising revenue.

As data protection authorities continue to scrutinise cookie practices, particularly around the use of tracking cookies without clear consent, UK Tech News's updated policy positions the site as a responsible actor in the digital news space. The website can be reached at https://www.uktech.news, and data inquiries should be directed to mydata@ex.comwearemvi.com or the physical address at 124 City Road, London, EC1V 2NX.

Source: UKTN News