Guide to Cross-Domain Cookie Consent

If your business website directs users to multiple domains or subdomains, you have to ensure your data collection efforts remain privacy-compliant. This is where understanding cross-domain cookie consent comes in.

Letting website visitors choose whether you can collect their data across your website domains is a vital part of your online privacy and data protection practices. This also enhances the user experience. In this article, we will explore the benefits, challenges, and best practices of implementing cross-domain cookie consent.

Most website owners are familiar with cookie consent, i.e. users’ permission to use cookies to collect data. However, if you operate multiple websites on different domains, have subdomains, or partner with other domains, cross-domain cookie consent allows users to choose whether you can collect their data on each site. This is also known as cross-domain cookie consent sharing because it lets you share cookies among related websites.

Why is this important? It means users don’t have to give their consent each time they’re directed to a different domain/subdomain associated with your website. This approach gives users control, enhancing their online experience with your sites.

Cross-domain cookie consent also helps ensure compliance with data protection regulations, such as GDPR, which requires websites to get user consent before setting cookies that track user behavior or collect personal information.

By using cross-domain cookie consent, you provide website owners with the assurance that users are aware of and can choose to accept or reject cookies. These cookies can be from all domains and third-party services that the website is using. It helps maintain transparency for users and gives them more control over their online privacy.

If you manage multiple domains, you likely use cookies to gather user data on each of them. However, enabling consent sharing across your chosen domains allows you to collect and share this information among sites rather than doing so separately.

Both cookies and local storage play a key role here. A user’s cookies record basic consent preferences and enable consistent consent across different domains in the same ecosystem. 

Local storage complements this. While similar to cookies, it allows web applications to store more detailed consent choices within the user’s browser. This might include specific categories of data processing activities that a user has consented to or refused.

The difference is that local storage is not automatically transmitted to the server. However, it does allow websites to store and share consent preferences, ensuring websites can synchronize preferences in line with privacy regulations such as GDPR. 

This approach lets you manage cookie consent preferences across all your domains. Additionally, all user information, including login details and user preferences, is stored in one place, creating a seamless user experience.

You can also manage cross-domain consent by using a Consent Management Platform or cookie consent solution. These give you the ability to display cookie consent banners. But they also give you a centralized platform for storing people’s consent status and syncing consent across each domain. From here, you can also manage which domains are included in the consent-sharing settings.

Subdomain Consent Sharing in CookieYes shares user consent information across different subdomains, eliminating the need for repeated consent requests. When a user consents on the main domain, the same consent applies to all subdomains, ensuring compliance with data privacy regulations. Without Subdomain Consent Sharing, each subdomain requires separate consent, leading to a disjointed user experience. With this feature enabled, consent is unified across all domains, providing a seamless experience for users.

The main benefits when it comes to cookie consent across domains are as follows: 

Streamlines user experience across related domains

A cross-domain cookie consent system streamlines the user experience across various domains by offering a consistent, coherent, and transparent approach to managing cookies. When a user gives consent for cookies on one domain within the network, that consent can be extended to all other domains within that same network.

The result is that users don’t have to give consent for cookies on each domain separately. This leads to a more seamless and user-friendly experience. Users only need to consent once for all related domains, reducing the number of pop-ups and banners when they move from one site to another within the same network.

Fosters trust and positive brand perception

Cross-domain cookie consent demonstrates to users that you are committed to transparency, user privacy, and compliance with data protection regulations. This commitment fosters trust and promotes a positive brand perception, showing that user data is handled responsibly.

Providing clear and open information about the cookies being used also builds trust. By complying with data protection regulations, websites can improve their credibility and bolster their reputation. A brand with a solid and trustworthy website will generally be viewed more favorably.

Enables consistent personalization across domains

Data is everything in the online business world, and many tools can help you maximize its value. E.g. Reporting tools analyze data to provide insights on , while marketing tools help manage data to create personalized campaigns. Cross-domain cookie consent extends this approach, offering website visitors a personalized experience across all your domains.

When a user accepts cookies on one domain within a network, that consent can be carried over and applied across all domains within that network. This means that user personalization preferences, such as language choices, automatic translations, or even shopping cart contents, can be shared across the sites within the same network.

By implementing cross-domain cookie consent, you ensure that your users’ data and preferences are synchronized across all related domains. This consistency makes users’ experiences more personalized and coherent.

Improves compliance with data privacy regulations

Cross-domain cookie consent significantly enhances privacy compliance by addressing the need for user consent across different websites and domains. This solution ensures that users are fully aware of, and can manage, the cookies being set by various domains they interact with.

By implementing cross-domain cookie consent, organizations can offer users a unified and transparent experience, where they can give or withdraw consent across multiple websites. This not only streamlines the consent process but also boosts user trust and engagement, which is vital in meeting the requirements of privacy regulations like GDPR, CCPA, or the ePrivacy Directive.

The approach helps organizations comply with regulations by requiring explicit user consent before setting up non-essential cookies, such as tracking and marketing cookies, that might otherwise compromise user privacy. It also facilitates a more cohesive approach to compliance by ensuring that user consent preferences are respected across all affiliated domains.

Overall, cross-domain cookie consent supports a user-centric approach to data privacy, reinforcing transparency, control, and regulatory compliance.

The main potential challenges and considerations when it comes to cookie consent across domains are as follows: 

Requires technical expertise and specialized tools

Cross-domain cookie consent requires expertise in web development and privacy regulations, as well as tools like Cookie Consent Management Platforms. These platforms simplify cookie consent management across multiple domains and often offer useful features such as cookie scanning and consent logging.

Compatibility with different platforms and devices

Compatibility issues can arise due to variations in platforms and devices. Browsers have different settings and capabilities, and some handle cookie consent mechanisms differently, making it challenging to ensure a seamless user experience across platforms.

One way to address this is through thorough testing and implementing specific design principles to resolve compatibility issues.

Users may have different consent preferences

Users’ differing consent preferences can pose challenges when it comes to cookie consent. Many people are uncomfortable with cookie tracking and third parties collecting their data.

Some users may be okay with offering consent for only one type of cookie, while others might be fine with giving blanket consent for all cookies.

These preferences can be tricky to manage, especially when consent requirements vary across different websites, and compliance with security regulations is necessary. Offering granular consent options can help users choose exactly what they consent to and maintain transparency regarding your cookie policies.

If you want to enable cross-domain cookie consent on your website, it’s a relatively simple process. Follow these steps:

• Identify the websites and domains you want to share cookies across: This might include your sites and microsites as well as those of partners. Either way, make sure you know why you are sharing cookies across these sites in particular.
• Manage cookie categories: Identify the types of cookies you collect on each website and categorize them. This information will help users see what type of information you are collecting about them and allow them to opt in or out of them. 
• Use a consent management tool: This causes a banner or pop-up notification to appear on your website and informs users about cookies from third-party domains. Users should be able to easily manage their preferences to customize their experience.
• Implement cookie consent messaging: Install banners on each of the domains you identified earlier. Make sure they are clear and comprehensive for users.
• Review your implementation: Ensure your cross-domain cookie consent strategy works across all domains by testing it on different browsers and devices. Moving forward, make sure your methods and messaging are always in line with data regulations. Future AI tools and third-party restrictions are especially likely to change compliance regulations, so make sure you make adjustments where necessary.

Transparency and user control in cookie usage are essential for a positive user experience, as they build trust through clear information. Customizable consent options empower users, while seamless integration ensures consistency. Let’s explore the best practices for cookie consent:

Offer clear and concise information 

Always be clear and concise with users about why and how cookies are used, as well as the specific data being collected. Transparency helps you comply with regulations and gain users’ trust and consent.

Provide flexible options by category or cookie type

Offering users the freedom to choose the types of cookies they consent to (e.g., necessary cookies, performance cookies, and marketing cookies) empowers them to navigate your site in a way that aligns with their privacy preferences. Granular consent options allow people to make informed decisions about their data.

Make it easy for users to opt-out

Everyone dislikes when opting out of cookies is made challenging. Ensure that users can withdraw their consent at any time and provide a simple way for people to manage cookie preferences from any web page or subdomain of your website. Anything else breeds resentment and distrust.

Ensure seamless platform integration

Integrate the cookie consent tool across all domains to provide a cohesive and consistent user experience, whether users access your site on Chrome or Safari. To ensure seamless integration, make sure the consent banner appears on all platforms and devices and functions correctly

Implement robust security measures

Security measures should be a top priority. Use encryption protocols, secure data storage tools, and regular security checks to protect user data. This approach not only builds and maintains user trust but also helps you comply with privacy laws.

Design a user-friendly cookie banner

Finally, ensure that your cookie banner is clear and user-friendly, with a straightforward explanation of the purpose of cookies. It should also provide simple options for users to set their consent preferences.

Cross-domain cookie consent is crucial for ensuring user privacy and complying with data protection regulations. This becomes even more critical when websites interact with multiple domains and third-party services.

Implementing a cross-domain cookie consent system allows you to streamline the user experience, build trust, enable users to customize their cookie preferences, and ensure compliance with privacy regulations.

Can I collect cookies across different domains?

Collecting cookies across multiple domains, subdomains, microsites, or third-party websites involves enabling cross-domain cookie consent. To ensure compliance with privacy laws, you must obtain consent from users to collect and share data from each site through clear banners and preference controls.

How does cross-domain cookie sharing work?

Cross-domain cookie sharing, or cross-domain consent, allows website owners to manage cookies for multiple domains in one location. Through consent banners, users can give their consent to allow these cookies to track their behavior across different websites and domains specified in the consent settings.

Is cross-domain cookie consent compliant with privacy regulations?

Any cross-domain cookie-sharing activities must align with local and international privacy laws such as GDPR and CCPA. To be compliant, websites must obtain explicit user consent for data collection and sharing purposes, and ensure transparency about cookie usage across participating domains.

What are third-party cookies?

Third-party cookies are collected by a domain or subdomain different from the primary website a user is visiting. These cookies are often used for tracking and advertising purposes.

How do I implement cross-domain cookie consent on my websites?

Implementation steps vary depending on your requirements and the technical infrastructure of your sites. Using a consent management platform or another consent solution with cross-domain functionality is recommended.

Author’s bio: Cory Plachy is the Senior Marketing and Communications Manager at Convoso, a leading contact center software for powering sales and lead generation. As an adaptable and naturally curious Marketing Communications Manager, Cory channels years of content creation, marketing, and sales experience into the world of SaaS communication.

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and should not be taken as legal or professional advice. The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of our organization. We do not endorse any products or services mentioned in the article.