Personalization Cookies

Personalization cookies are cookies that remember user preferences and settings to provide a customized experience. These cookies store information about choices you've made—such as language preferences, currency selection, region, display settings, font sizes, or content filters—so you don't have to re-enter these preferences each time you visit. Personalization cookies can also remember items in shopping carts, saved articles, or previously viewed content to enhance user experience. Unlike targeting cookies that track behavior for advertising, personalization cookies focus on improving site usability based on explicit user choices. However, the line between functionality and personalization can blur. The legal treatment depends on whether the personalization is essential to the service requested or merely enhances it. Under the ePrivacy Directive, personalization cookies generally require consent unless they're strictly necessary for functionality explicitly requested by the user. For example, a cookie remembering your language selection might be necessary, but one tracking your content preferences for recommendations typically requires consent. Organizations should evaluate their personalization cookies carefully, implement appropriate consent mechanisms, and be transparent about how personalization works in their cookie policies.