Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: TH
Context: Cookies are a vital component of the digital world, enhancing online experiences by remembering login information, preferences, and interactions on websites.
- Cookies come in various types, including session cookies (temporary), persistent cookies (long-lasting), secure cookies (encrypted), and third-party cookies (from domains other than the visited site).
Benefits:
They are like keys to a secure club, granting seamless access to websites. Cookies enable personalization, as seen on platforms like Amazon, which use them to provide tailored product recommendations and shopping cart persistence.
Challenges:
- Privacy concerns arise as they can track online behaviour, potentially encroaching on digital privacy.
- Inadequate security can lead to data breaches. Privacy regulations like GDPR and the California Consumer Privacy Act require websites to seek user consent for certain cookie types, leading to pop-ups and prompts.
India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023 mandates explicit user consent for data collection via cookies.
