Auditing Website Cookies and Trackers

Overview

A cookie audit is the foundational step in achieving cookie consent compliance. It involves systematically identifying, categorizing, and documenting every cookie and tracking technology deployed on a website. The Court of Justice of the European Union in Planet49 GmbH v. Bundesverband der Verbraucherzentralen (Case C-673/17, 1 October 2019) established that pre-ticked checkboxes do not constitute valid consent under the ePrivacy Directive, and that users must be informed about cookie duration and third-party access before consenting. A thorough audit reveals what consent must be obtained and what disclosures must be made.

Audit Methodology

Phase 1: Preparation

Before scanning, document the audit scope for Pinnacle E-Commerce Ltd: