UKTech.news has announced an updated Cookie Policy, effective from 4 June 2025, aimed at providing greater transparency and control for visitors from the United Kingdom. The revised document, synchronised with cookiedatabase.org, details the various tracking technologies employed on the website and emphasises compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR).
What Are Cookies and Similar Technologies?
The policy begins by defining cookies as small text files stored on a user's device when visiting a website. They enable the site to remember preferences, track browsing behaviour, and deliver personalised content. Alongside cookies, the policy explains scripts—pieces of program code that run on the server or user device to ensure interactive functionality—and web beacons (also known as pixel tags), which are tiny invisible images used to monitor traffic and gather analytics.
Types of Cookies Used
UKTech.news categorises its cookies into several distinct types. Functional cookies are essential for the website to operate correctly, such as remembering user preferences, keeping items in a shopping cart, or maintaining login sessions. These are placed without requiring user consent, as they are strictly necessary. Statistics cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the site, measuring page views, time spent, and navigation patterns. For these, UKTech.news requests permission from users before placement. Advertising cookies help personalise advertisements based on browsing history, both on and off the site, and are also subject to consent. Marketing and tracking cookies create detailed user profiles to monitor activity across multiple websites for similar promotional purposes. Finally, social media cookies are embedded from platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter), allowing users to share content or like pages; these platforms may store and process personal data for their own advertising aims.
Third-Party Services and Data Sharing
A significant portion of the policy is dedicated to the third-party services integrated into the site. Google various services are used for website development and marketing, with functional cookies like google_auto_fc_cmp_setting for consent storage and marketing cookies such as __gpi. CloudFlare provides content delivery and bot filtering, storing a persistent mirage_cache_manifest and a 30‑minute __cf_bm. Criteo handles remarketing through its cto_bundle cookie (13 months). Google Analytics supplies website statistics via _ga, _gid, and _ga_ with varying expiration periods. PHP is used for general functionality, and Complianz manages cookie consent, storing multiple preference cookies each lasting 365 days. One Signal delivers push notifications, while Google reCAPTCHA protects against spam using both functional and marketing cookies. WordPress powers the site, placing several functional cookies for user preferences and authentication. Stripe handles payment processing with its fraud-prevention __stripe_mid (1 year). HubSpot enables marketing automation and email marketing, storing data on visit times and visitor identity. Hotjar provides heatmaps and session recordings. Facebook, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn all contribute social sharing and tracking functionalities, with numerous cookies for advertising, session management, and user identification. Google Fonts loads webfonts but logs the user's IP address immediately. Google Ads and Google Ads Optimisation are used for advertising and retargeting. Snowplow supplies additional website analytics. Elementor aids content creation with anonymous statistics. A large miscellaneous category lists many cookies whose purposes are still under investigation, including those from various third-party trackers and analytics platforms.
User Consent and Management
Upon first visiting the website, users are presented with a pop-up explaining the cookie categories. By clicking "Save preferences", they consent to the selected categories. The policy emphasises that users can withdraw or adjust consent at any time, and it provides a vendor list (TCF) for advanced control. However, the vendor list is not accessible when JavaScript is disabled, such as on AMP pages. The policy also outlines how to manage cookies through browser settings, noting that disabling all cookies may impair website functionality.
Your Rights Under UK Data Protection Law
The policy reaffirms user rights under UK GDPR: the right to know why personal data is processed, right of access, right to rectification, right to erasure, right to data portability, and the right to object to processing. Users can exercise these rights by contacting the website owner via the provided email (mydata@ex.comwearemvi.com), phone (0208 150 8286), or postal address (Tech City News, 124 City Roads, London, EC1V 2NX, United Kingdom). Complaints can also be directed to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
Implications for UK Users
The updated policy reflects the ongoing evolution of data privacy regulation in the UK, particularly after Brexit when the UK GDPR became independent from the EU GDPR. By providing detailed information about each cookie, its purpose, expiration, and the third parties involved, UKTech.news aims to build trust with its readership. The extensive list of cookies—from well-known providers like Google and Facebook to specialised analytics tools like Snowplow and Hotjar—illustrates the complexity of modern web tracking. Users concerned about their privacy are encouraged to review the policy and adjust their consent settings accordingly. The document will next be synchronised with cookiedatabase.org on 27 May 2026, where further updates may be reflected. As digital advertising and data collection evolve, such transparent policies become critical for informed consent and regulatory compliance.
Overall, UKTech.news's Cookie Policy serves as a comprehensive guide for users to understand exactly what data is collected, how it is used, and what controls they have. The emphasis on consent for non-essential cookies aligns with best practices under UK data protection law, empowering users to make educated choices about their online privacy.
Source: UKTN News