Cookies
In short
Cookies are small files a website stores in the browser. They can remember a shopping basket, but they are also used to track visitors.
Some cookies are needed for the site to work, like the one that remembers you are logged in. Others are used for statistics, ads and tracking, for example from Google Analytics or the Meta pixel. The rules also cover other technologies that store or read information on the visitor's device. In Norwegian they are called informasjonskapsler.
What the law says
The new Electronic Communications Act (ekomloven) has applied since 1 January 2025. Under section 3-15, you need consent before you store or read such information, and the consent must meet the same standard as in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Browser default settings no longer count as consent, and saying no must be as easy as saying yes. The exception is what is strictly necessary for a service the user has asked for. Nkom, the Norwegian Communications Authority, and Datatilsynet, the Norwegian Data Protection Authority, share supervision.
Who it applies to
If you have Google Analytics, the Meta pixel or an advertising tool on your site, it applies to you. A banner with only an "OK" button is not enough.
How to check your own
Open your website in a private window in Chrome. See whether "Reject" is as easy to find as "Accept". Right-click, choose Inspect, and look under Application and Cookies to see whether anything is stored before you have answered. You will find more about the setup in Cookies and consent.
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