noyb lodges 226 complaints with 18 different supervisory authorities against websites using “OneTrust” cookie banner software

22. August 2022

On August 9th, 2022, the Austrian NGO noyb announced on its website that it had lodged over 200 complaints with 18 supervisory authorities against several websites that have the cookie banner software “OneTrust” in use.

noyb claims that those banners are designed in a way that nudges the user into clicking the accept button.

According to noyb’s legal analysis, websites that use these cookie banners are neither in conformity with the ePrivacy Directive nor with the GDPR. Further noyb argues: “Deceptive cookie banner designs try to force a user’s agreement by making it insanely burdensome to decline cookies. The GDPR actually requires a fair yes/no choice, not crazy click-marathons.”

It is important to highlight that the complaints were only lodged against companies hosting these websites and using possibly unlawful cookie banners which did not respond to noyb’s emails. Interestingly enough, even companies who have not been contacted by noyb have proceeded, in the mean-time, to update their cookies in accordance with a guiding document provided by noyb.

In response to noyb’s multiple complaints in relation to cookie banners, the EDPB decided to establish a task force in September 2021.

Category: Cookies
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