UKTech News, a leading technology news publication, has released a significantly revised cookie policy, effective from June 4, 2025. The update reflects the evolving landscape of online tracking, user privacy, and regulatory compliance under UK law. The new policy provides a detailed breakdown of the various cookies and similar technologies used on the website, as well as the purposes they serve, from essential functional operations to sophisticated marketing and analytics.
Understanding the Core of the Policy
Cookies are small text files stored on a user's device when visiting a website. They are used for a wide range of functions, including remembering user preferences, enabling secure logins, and tracking browsing behaviour for advertising purposes. The updated policy from UKTech News categorizes these technologies into several types: technical or functional cookies, statistics cookies, advertising cookies, and marketing/tracking cookies. Each category requires a different level of user consent, with functional cookies being placed automatically as they are essential for the website to operate, while all other categories require explicit user permission.
One significant aspect of the update is the comprehensive list of third-party services that place cookies on UKTech News. The policy now identifies over 20 external vendors, including major technology firms like Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter (now X), as well as specialized analytics and marketing platforms such as Criteo, Hotjar, Snowplow, and One Signal. Each vendor's cookies are detailed with their specific purposes, expiration durations, and data-sharing practices.
New and Notable Cookie Vendors
The expanded policy introduces several new vendors that were not prominently featured in previous versions. Google various services now includes cookies for website development and consent management, with the google_auto_fc_cmp_setting cookie storing consent preferences persistently. CloudFlare's cookies are used for content delivery and bot filtering, with the __cf_bm cookie lasting only 30 minutes. Criteo, a marketing platform for remarketing, has added multiple cookies including cto_bundle for cross-page functions with a 13-month lifespan, and several others pending investigation.
Google Analytics remains a key statistics tool, with cookies like _ga (2 years), _gid (1 day), and _ga_ (1 year) used to count and track pageviews. The policy also notes the addition of PHP cookies for website development, Complianz cookies for consent management (all lasting 365 days), and One Signal cookies for push notifications. Google reCAPTCHA is employed for spam prevention with functional and marketing cookies, including _grecaptcha (6 months) and session-based rc::a, rc::b, and rc::c.
Social media integration is a major focus. Facebook's cookies now cover marketing (e.g., _fbp for 3 months, _fbc for 2 years) and functional purposes (e.g., wd for screen resolution). LinkedIn's cookies span multiple categories: functional (e.g., sdsc session), marketing (e.g., lms_ads 30 days), statistics (e.g., lms_analytics 30 days), and preferences (e.g., bcookie 1 year). Twitter (X) maintains both functional and marketing cookies, such as metrics_token for tracking embedded content views.
User Consent and Control
A cornerstone of the updated policy is the emphasis on user consent. Upon first visiting the site, users are presented with a popup that allows them to select which categories of cookies they accept. The policy explicitly states that consent is required for statistics, advertising, and marketing/tracking cookies. For users who wish to manage their preferences later, the policy notes that the cookie banner can be re-accessed via a manage consent button, though this feature relies on JavaScript and may not function on AMP pages.
The policy also introduces a 'Vendors' section where users can see which partners are involved in data processing. Each vendor lists its legal basis (consent or legitimate interest), maximum cookie expiration, categories, purposes, and data retention periods. Users can provide or withdraw consent for specific purposes like statistics and marketing, and can also object to legitimate interest claims. This granularity aligns with the Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF) standards, which are increasingly required for websites operating in the UK and Europe.
Your Rights Under UK Data Protection Law
The policy reiterates the rights of users under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. These rights include the right to know why personal data is collected, how it will be used, and how long it will be kept. Users also have the right to access their data, correct inaccuracies, request deletion, revoke consent, and transfer their data to another controller. The right to object to processing is also available, unless the controller has overriding legitimate grounds.
To exercise these rights, users can contact the Data Protection Officer at the provided email address (mydata@ex.comwearemvi.com) or by phone (0208 150 8286). The policy also notes that complaints can be directed to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's independent authority for data protection.
Broader Context and Industry Trends
This update comes at a time when data privacy regulations are tightening globally. The UK's departure from the European Union has led to its own version of GDPR, which remains largely aligned with the EU framework but allows for some divergence over time. The UK government is currently considering reforms to the data protection regime, which could impact how cookies are regulated. However, for now, websites like UKTech News must comply with the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), which mandate that users must give informed consent before non-essential cookies can be placed.
The inclusion of a wide variety of marketing and tracking vendors reflects the economic realities of running a digital news publication. Advertising revenue is often dependent on behavioural targeting, which relies on collecting user data across sites. The challenge for publishers is to balance this need with growing user expectations for transparency and control. UKTech News appears to be taking a compliant approach by providing detailed breakdowns of each cookie's purpose and lifespan, and by offering users a way to opt out of categories they are uncomfortable with.
Technical Details and Cookie Expirations
The policy includes extensive technical details about each cookie, which is useful for users who want to understand exactly what is being stored on their devices. For instance, functional cookies from WordPress store user preferences, language settings, and login status, with expiration periods ranging from session to persistent. HubSpot's cookies, used for marketing automation, store time of visit (__hstc, 13 months) and visitor identity (hubspotutk, 13 months). Hotjar's heat mapping service uses session-based functional cookies and a user ID cookie (_hjSessionUser_) that lasts a year.
Some cookies are categorized as 'Purpose pending investigation' in the Miscellaneous section, which includes dozens of cookies from various unknown sources. This transparency is commendable as it acknowledges that some tracking technologies may not yet be fully classified. Users should be aware that these could involve data sharing until the investigation is complete.
Contact & Further Information
For any questions or concerns about the cookie policy, users can reach UKTech News at their registered office: 124 City Roads, London, EC1V 2NX, United Kingdom. The policy was synchronized with cookiedatabase.org on 13 May 2026, indicating an ongoing commitment to keeping the information up-to-date with industry standards.
As the digital ecosystem continues to evolve, users are encouraged to regularly review cookie policies to stay informed about how their data is being used. UKTech News's updated policy is a positive step toward greater transparency, but it also underscores the complexity of modern web tracking. Understanding these details empowers users to make informed decisions about their online privacy.
Source: UKTN News