CNIL cookies and tracking devices guidelines
Explains consent requirements for cookies and tracking devices, states that scrolling or swiping is not valid consent, requires proof of consent, prevents data storage before consent, preserves access after refusal, and calls for easy consent withdrawal.
What this source can teach
Use this source to understand a platform convention and the setting it was designed for.
- Start with the original. Open the source and find the guidance or example relevant to your task.
- Trace the connection. Use the claim notes below to see how this site applies the source to specific patterns.
- Check the setting. Compare the source's platform, people, and constraints with your own decision.
Pattern Decisions This Source Supports
| Pattern | Supported decision | Required contract | Claim note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cookie banner | Choose cookie banner when a user must be told about cookies or similar technologies and must be able to accept or reject non-essential storage before it is set. | The banner appears before non-essential storage is set and remains until the user accepts, rejects, or saves preferences. | CNIL guidance supports no tracking before consent, no scroll or swipe consent, service access after refusal, proof of consent, and easy withdrawal. |
| Cookie consent | Choose cookie consent when the decision controls cookies, pixels, local storage, tags, SDKs, or similar storage and access on the user's device. | Optional cookies, pixels, local storage, analytics tags, advertising tags, and similar technologies remain blocked until the matching purpose is accepted. | Supports no tracking before consent, no scroll or swipe consent, continued access after refusal, proof of consent, and easy withdrawal. |
| Dark-pattern consent | Flag this anti-pattern when accepting optional consent is one click but declining, customizing, or withdrawing requires extra pages, hidden links, confusing labels, or repeated confirmation. | Acceptance, rejection, customization, and withdrawal must be reachable with comparable effort for optional purposes. | Supports no scroll or swipe consent, continued service access after refusal, proof of consent, no storage before consent, and easy withdrawal. |
Comparisons supported by this source
- Cookie banner vs banner vs notification banner vs site alert
CNIL guidance supports no tracking before consent, no scroll or swipe consent, service access after refusal, proof of consent, and easy withdrawal.
- Cookie consent vs cookie banner vs consent prompt vs preference center vs privacy settings vs legal acceptance
Supports no tracking before consent, no scroll or swipe consent, continued access after refusal, proof of consent, and easy withdrawal.
- Dark-pattern consent vs consent prompt vs cookie consent vs cookie banner vs legal acceptance vs preference center
Supports no tracking before consent, no scroll or swipe consent, continued access after refusal, proof of consent, and easy withdrawal.
Evidence Role
This source is treated as platform-guideline evidence. Its value comes from the specific claims and setting described above.
Publisher: Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertes. Last checked: .