Understanding the UKTech.News Cookie Policy

UKTech.News, a leading technology news platform, has published its latest Cookie Policy, effective June 4, 2025. This comprehensive document outlines how the website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance user experience, deliver personalised advertising, and gather analytics. The policy applies to all visitors from the United Kingdom and complies with UK data protection regulations, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR).

In this article, we dissect the cookie policy, explaining the types of cookies used, their purposes, the third-party vendors involved, and the rights users have to control their data. Understanding these policies is crucial for users who value online privacy and want to make informed decisions about their browsing habits.

What Are Cookies and How Do They Work?

Cookies are small text files stored on a user's device by a website. They contain information that can be retrieved by the website during subsequent visits. The policy distinguishes between standard cookies, scripts (program code that runs on the server or client), and web beacons (invisible images used for tracking). Each technology serves a specific purpose, from remembering login details to monitoring user activity across multiple sites.

UKTech.News uses cookies for several purposes: technical/functional cookies that ensure the website works correctly (e.g., maintaining shopping cart items), statistical cookies that help optimise performance (e.g., tracking page views), advertising cookies that serve tailored ads, and marketing/tracking cookies that build user profiles for targeted campaigns. Social media cookies from platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter) are also embedded to enable content sharing.

Detailed Cookie Breakdown: Categories and Vendors

The policy categorises cookies by function and vendor. Below is a detailed look at each category and the third-party services involved:

Functional Cookies

These cookies are essential for the website's operation. They do not require user consent. Examples include:

• Google Various Services: Stores cookie consent preferences via google_auto_fc_cmp_setting.
• CloudFlare: Uses __cf_bm (30 minutes) and mirage_cache_manifest to prevent bot attacks and accelerate content delivery.
• PHP: Places exp cookies to maintain session state across pages.
• Complianz: A consent management platform storing user preferences (e.g., cmplz_functional, cmplz_statistics, cmplz_marketing) for 365 days.
• WordPress: Stores user preferences, login states, and language settings via cookies like wp-settings-.
• Stripe: Uses __stripe_mid (1 year) for fraud prevention during payment processing.
• HubSpot: Implements __hssc (30 minutes) for anonymised statistics.
• Hotjar: Uses _hjSession_ (session) to enable heatmaps and recordings.
• Facebook: Functional cookies like wd (screen resolution) and csm (fraud prevention).
• Twitter: Places local_storage_support_test for load balancing.
• LinkedIn: Uses sdsc (session), li_gc (6 months), and BizographicsOptOut (10 years) for privacy preferences.
• Google reCAPTCHA: _grecaptcha (6 months) for spam protection.

Statistical / Analytics Cookies

These cookies help UKTech.News understand how users interact with the site. Consent is required. Vendors include:

• Google Analytics: Captures pageviews and user IDs via _ga (2 years), _gid (1 day), _ga_ (1 year), and _gat_gtag_UA_ (1 minute).
• HubSpot: Uses __hssrc (session) to store unique session IDs for analytics.
• Hotjar: Stores _hjSessionUser_ (1 year) to identify unique users.
• Snowplow: Uses _sp_id (2 years) for detailed website usage statistics.
• Elementor: Places elementor (persistent) to log site actions.
• LinkedIn: Cookies like lms_analytics (30 days) and AnalyticsSyncHistory (30 days).

Advertising / Marketing Cookies

These cookies enable personalised advertising and campaign measurement. Consent is explicitly required. Key vendors:

• Google Various Services: __gpi (marketing) for ad personalisation.
• Criteo: cto_bundle (13 months) for remarketing across pages.
• One Signal: Push notification cookies like isPushNotificationsEnabled (persistent).
• Facebook: Extensive marketing cookies including _fbp (3 months), fr (3 months), and c_user (30 days) for ad delivery and retargeting.
• Google Fonts: Google Fonts API (immediate) to read IP address for styling.
• Twitter: metrics_token (persistent) to track embedded content views.
• LinkedIn: Multiple marketing cookies like lms_ads (30 days), _guid (90 days), and li-oatml (1 month) for ad targeting.
• Google Ads Optimization: 1p_jar (1 month) for ad delivery.
• Google Ads: ads/ga-audiences (immediate) for remarketing audiences.

Social Media Cookies

Cookies from Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter) are embedded when users interact with share buttons or view embedded posts. These third parties may process data for personalised advertising. All three are based in the United States, raising potential data transfer concerns under UK GDPR.

Cookies with Pending Purpose

The policy lists numerous cookies under 'Purpose pending investigation', including those from Criteo (criteo_fast_bid_expires), One Signal (onesignal-notification-prompt), Snowplow (snowplowOutQueue_snowday__wn_post), and miscellaneous vendors like Mixpanel and Wistia. This indicates that the website is still categorising some tracking technologies, a common practice during cookie policy updates.

Consent Management and User Rights

Upon first visit, users see a pop-up banner where they can select which cookie categories to allow. By clicking 'Save preferences', they consent to the chosen categories. The policy uses Complianz as its Consent Management Platform (CMP) to record and store these choices for 365 days. Users can manage their consent at any time via the 'Manage consent' button, though the TCF vendor list is only available when JavaScript is enabled.

UKTech.News also outlines a detailed vendor consent framework. Users can give or withdraw consent on a per-purpose basis (e.g., statistics, marketing) and object to legitimate interest processing for specific purposes. The TCF (Transparency and Consent Framework) is used to manage vendor purposes, special features, and data retention policies. This aligns with IAB Europe's standards, giving users granular control over data processing by advertisers.

Data Security and International Transfers

Several vendors, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Google, are based in the United States. The policy acknowledges this and references their privacy statements. Since the UK has adequacy decisions for some US companies under the UK-US Data Bridge, these transfers are considered lawful. However, users should be aware that US laws may provide different data protection levels compared to UK law.

How to Enable, Disable, or Delete Cookies

Users can control cookies through their browser settings. Most modern browsers allow you to block all cookies, delete existing ones, or receive alerts when a cookie is placed. However, disabling all cookies may break some functionality of the website. The policy notes that if you delete cookies, they will be placed again after you grant consent on your next visit.

For step-by-step instructions, users should consult their browser's Help section. Common browsers include Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

Your Rights Under UK GDPR

UKTech.News lists six key rights for users:

• Right to be informed: Know why data is collected, how it will be used, and retention periods.
• Right of access: Request a copy of personal data held.
• Right to rectification: Correct or delete inaccurate data.
• Right to withdraw consent: Revoke consent and request deletion.
• Right to data portability: Request transfer of data to another controller.
• Right to object: Object to processing unless legitimate grounds exist.

To exercise these rights, users should contact UKTech.News via email (mydata@ex.comwearemvi.com) or phone (0208 150 8286). Complaints can be raised with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) in the UK.

Contact Information and Policy Updates

The registered address is Tech City News, 124 City Roads, London, EC1V 2NX, United Kingdom. The policy was synchronised with cookiedatabase.org on July 8, 2026, and last updated June 4, 2025. UKTech.News encourages users to check this page periodically for updates, as cookie practices may evolve with new technologies or regulatory changes.

Source: UKTN News