UK Tech News, a leading publication covering technology and startup news in the United Kingdom, has published an updated Cookie Policy effective 4 June 2025. The revision applies to all visitors from the United Kingdom and aims to align with the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

What Has Changed?

The new policy expands on the types of cookies used on the website, including functional, statistical, advertising, and marketing/tracking cookies. It also introduces a more granular consent mechanism, allowing users to choose which categories of cookies they accept. The policy lists dozens of specific cookies from services such as CloudFlare, Criteo, Google Analytics, HubSpot, Hotjar, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and many others.

One notable addition is the explicit listing of "purpose pending investigation" cookies from miscellaneous third-party services. While these cookies are not yet fully categorised, UK Tech News has committed to reviewing them and updating the policy accordingly. The website also uses Google reCAPTCHA for spam prevention and Stripe for payment processing, both of which place functional and marketing cookies.

Why Did UK Tech News Update Its Cookie Policy?

Cookie regulations in the UK have tightened in recent years. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has increased enforcement actions against websites that fail to obtain informed consent for non-essential cookies. The new policy reflects a broader industry trend toward greater transparency and user control.

According to the policy, UK Tech News uses cookies for several core purposes: ensuring the website functions correctly (functional cookies), analysing user behaviour to improve the site (statistics cookies), delivering personalised advertisements (advertising cookies), and tracking users across websites for marketing purposes (marketing/tracking cookies). Each category requires different levels of consent.

How Does the Consent Process Work?

When a user visits UK Tech News for the first time, a pop-up banner appears with an explanation of cookies. The user can select which categories they wish to enable and then click "Save preferences.\” Consent is stored via cookies placed by Complianz, the website’s consent management platform. These consent cookies have a lifespan of 365 days.

Users who have disabled JavaScript may not see the interactive banner, but they can still manage consent through a dedicated button at the bottom of the page. The policy also notes that users can withdraw consent at any time by clearing their cookies or adjusting browser settings.

Third-Party Services and Data Sharing

Several third-party services place cookies on UK Tech News’s domain. These include advertising and analytics platforms such as Criteo, Google Ads, and Snowplow, as well as social media networks like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter (now X). Each service has its own privacy statement, and the cookie policy encourages users to review those documents for a complete understanding of data processing.

Some services, such as PHP and WordPress, place strictly functional cookies that do not require explicit consent. Others, like HubSpot and Hotjar, use cookies for marketing automation and heat mapping, which fall under the statistics and marketing categories.

Notably, several cookies listed under "Miscellaneous" have no defined purpose yet. These are marked as "purpose pending investigation." UK Tech News states that sharing of data for these cookies is also pending investigation.

User Rights Under UK Data Protection Law

The updated policy reinforces the rights that users have under the UK GDPR. These include the right to know why personal data is collected, how it will be used, and how long it will be retained. Users also have the right to access, rectify, or delete their data, as well as the right to object to processing and the right to data portability.

To exercise these rights, users can contact UK Tech News via email at mydata@ex.comwearemvi.com or by phone at 0208 150 8286. The company’s address is 124 City Roads, London, EC1V 2NX. Complaints can also be directed to the ICO.

Broader Context: The State of Cookie Compliance in the UK

UK Tech News is not alone in revamping its cookie policy. Many websites have been forced to update their practices after ICO guidance emphasised the need for "granular" consent that gives users real choices rather than a simple accept-all button. The ICO has also warned against "cookie walls" that deny access to users who refuse non-essential cookies.

The updated policy from UK Tech News represents a proactive approach to compliance. By clearly listing each cookie's name, expiration, and function, the website enables users to make informed decisions. The inclusion of a TCF (Transparency and Consent Framework) vendor list further aligns with industry best practices.

However, the presence of numerous "purpose pending investigation" cookies may raise eyebrows among privacy advocates. The ICO generally requires that websites know precisely what each cookie does before placing it. UK Tech News has indicated it will continue to review these cookies, and the policy will be synchronised with cookiedatabase.org on 15 July 2026.

What This Means for Users

For regular readers of UK Tech News, the new cookie policy means more control over personal data. Users can now opt out of tracking and advertising cookies while still enjoying full access to the site's content. Functional cookies will continue to operate automatically to ensure the website works correctly.

Those who value privacy can adjust their settings at any time using the cookie banner. Because the consent is stored for a year, users will not be asked repeatedly unless they clear their cookies or use a different device.

The policy also affects how social media sharing works. Embedded buttons from Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter may place tracking cookies unless users explicitly block them via the cookie settings. UK Tech News advises users to review their privacy settings on those platforms as well.

Technical Implementation

Behind the scenes, the website employs scripts from Google various services, CloudFlare, and WordPress to manage cookie placement. Google’s auto_fc_cmp_setting cookie stores consent preferences persistently. CloudFlare uses __cf_bm to filter bot traffic, with a 30-minute expiration. Criteo’s cto_bundle cookie lasts 13 months to provide cross-page functionality.

Google Analytics uses four main cookies: _ga (2 years), _gid (1 day), _ga_ (1 year), and _gat_gtag_UA_ (1 minute). These are used for counting pageviews and storing unique user IDs. Hotjar’s _hjSession_ and _hjSessionUser_ cookies serve similar analytical purposes.

For advertising, Facebook’s _fbp cookie lasts 3 months and tracks visits across websites. LinkedIn’s UserMatchHistory cookie lasts 30 days and enables ad retargeting. Google Ads uses 1p_jar for ad delivery, expiring in one month.

Looking Ahead

As data privacy regulations continue to evolve, UK Tech News will likely need to update its policy again. The synchronisation with cookiedatabase.org scheduled for July 2026 suggests that the company plans to keep its documentation current. For now, users can take comfort in the detailed disclosures and the ability to customise their cookie preferences.

Tech publishers like UK Tech News face a delicate balance between monetising their content through advertising and respecting reader privacy. The updated cookie policy signals that the company is serious about compliance, even if some aspects—like the uncategorised cookies—still need refinement.

Source:UKTN News